The Quezon City government is urging barangays to build their quarantine facilities in a bid to minimize the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in communities.
In a memorandum dated Aug. 21, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said building barangay-based isolation facilities would help unclog hospitals of patients.
"These facilities enable immediate isolation of asymptomatic or mild cases, or suspect and probable cases," she said.
"Also, the barangay quarantine facilities will help free up hospital beds for moderate, critical or severe cases,” she added.
Barangay officials who wish to set up their own isolation facilities may coordinate with the City Health Department (CHD).
According to the guidelines released by the city government, the facility must be an enclosed with adequate lighting and ventilation, have appropriate number of beds and other furniture, uninterrupted power and water supply, and access to laundry service. It should also not be more than two hours away from a hospital.
Members of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT), as well as other city government and health officials, must be deployed in the said quarantine facility to monitor patients.
Patients who can be admitted to the isolation facilities are those who are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms, suspect and probable patients and close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 patients who are awaiting swab test results, and recovering patients completing their 14-day quarantine.
Those with moderate or severe symptoms shall be referred to the nearest hospital and not at the quarantine facilities.
Barangays with excess capacity in their quarantine facilities are encouraged to allow admission of patients from neighboring barangays.
Several barangays in Quezon City have already established their own isolation facilities even before the release of the guideline, the city government said.
The Quezon City government has opened at least three quarantine facilities, and is set to open two more in the coming weeks.