Public school buildings can now be turned into coronavirus disease (COVID-19) isolation facilities but three conditions set by the Department of Education (DepEd) must be followed.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. disclosed Thursday, March 25, that while Education Secretary Leonor Briones has approved the use of public school buildings as isolation facilities, she also identified certain conditions.
First, school buildings can be used as a last resort if there are no other facilities available.
Second, such buildings should meet the requirement of the interagency task force (IATF) and the Department of Health (DOH) for vaccination centers.
And third, other related COVID activities should not be conducted in schools where vaccination centers are located.
“Napakalaking bagay po nito sapagkat makakatipid na tayo sa hotels at the same time hindi na ho lalayo ang mga tao. Mas magkakaroon kami ng maraming isolation facilities (This is a big help to us because we don't need to rent hotels and at the same time, we don't need to go farther. Our isolation facilities will definitely increase),” Abalos said.
The development came as Metro Manila reached 91 percent occupancy rate in its hotel isolation facilities.
Temporary treatment and monitoring facilities for positive mild-asymptomatic patients in the capital region, on the other hand, is now at 71.48 percent occupancy rate.
Abalos also said that at present, a total of 169 granular lockdowns are being implemented in Metro Manila.