By Nick Giongco
All 123 COVID-19 patients treated at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium (NAS) inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila have been sent home, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) announced Tuesday.
The Ninoy Aquino Stadium as it was being transformed months ago into a shelter for COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms.
The PSC beamed as there were no deaths recorded during the patients’ confinement at the refurbished venue that was used during the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games late last year.
“Malaking pasalamat po natin sa Panginoon dahil wala pong namatay sa ating mga pasyente. Napakagaling po ng ating AFP medical doctors dahil ginawa po nila ang mga nararapat talaga.” said Philippine Sports Commission security supervisor Angel Dayag.
The NAS is one of several government-owned properties that served as housing for the treatment of coronavirus patients with mild symptoms.
Following their discharge, the NAS was disinfected and underwent repairs in anticipation of the next wave of patients.
The repairs and cleaning will last until Friday.
The NAS housed suspected COVID-19 patients starting April when the number of cases began to soar.
About 200 meters from the NAS, the Rizal Memorial Coliseum (RMC), which was also rehabilitated for the SEA Games, continues to house patients and will likewise undergo the same disinfection procedures once the last patient leaves.
Currently, the RMC has 67 patients, according to the Armed Forces Health Service Command.
Over at the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena in Pasig, there are 34 patients as of June 9 as per the report from Philippine National Police Health Service head Lt. Col. Jay Carpio.
The Philsports also was spruced up for the SEAG and reconfigured to accommodate patients like the NAS and RMC.
“Kami pong PSC frontliners, umaasa po kami na gagaling po ang lahat ng mga pasyente natin dahil ginagawa naman po lahat ng AFP medical doctors ang lahat. Ang hiling lang po namin ay sana walang mamatay sa ating mga pasyente, dasal na lang talaga ang kailangan natin.” said Dayag.