There has been a drop in the number of persons infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in government isolation and quarantine facilities in the greater Metro Manila area, said government COVID-19 testing czar Vince Dizon on Friday, Sept. 18.

“Ngayon po ay nasa 50 percent plus na lang. Nasa 52, 53 percent na lang (It’s now just around 50 plus percent. Around 52, 53 percent),” Dizon said during Malacañang’s virtual presser.

The testing czar assured that capacities of the government’s We Heal As One Centers and isolation hotels under Oplan Kalinga are keeping up with the COVID-19-positive persons who need to be quarantined.

“Dati dagsaan ang dami ng kaso sa greater Metro Manila area (Before there was surge a number of cases in greater Metro Manila area),” Dizon recounted.

“Umaabot sa 80 percent, 85 percent ang occupancy ng ating We Heal As One Centers at mga quarantine hotels (Before the occupancy reached 80 to 85 percent in our We Heal As One Centers and quarantine hotels),” he cited.

Despite this, Dizon said the number of government facilities will still continue to increase because of the recent signing into law of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, also known as Bayanihan 2.

“Magkakaroon pa tayo ng dagdag ng isolation centers at dagdag na hotels dahil nga nagkaroon na ng dagdag na budget para dito (We will have more isolation centers and quarantine hotels because there is now additional budget for this),” the testing czar said.

“Sa tulong ng Bayanihan We Recover As One Law ay kakayanin pa natin ito kahit na dumami ang ating testing o dumami ang ating kaso (With the help of Bayanihan 2, we will be able to handle even if there are more tests or more cases),” he pointed out.