ILOILO CITY – The provincial government is looking at the possibility of using tourist resorts, inns and other other establishments as extension of district hospitals to treat patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“We are seriously considering this now. We are still finalizing details,” said Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. during his weekly press conference.
This as the health care utilization rate of the 12 districts hospitals and the Iloilo Provincial Hospital have reached critical levels with the continuing spike in COVID-19 cases for the past two weeks.
As of June 17, there are 2,439 active COVID-19 cases in the province consisting of 42 towns and the component city of Passi. For June 17 alone, there were 131 new cases and nine new deaths.
Defensor said the plan will be similar to how private hospitals in Iloilo City have partnered with hotels to give medical treatment to COVID-19 patients.
The tourist resorts, inns and similar establishments must be close to any of the hospitals in the towns of Alimodian, Balasan, Barotac Nuevo, Barotac Viejo, Cabatuan, Calinog, Dumangas, Guimbal, Janiuay, Lambunao, Pototan, Sara, and Passi City.
As of the moment, the Iloilo Provincial Tourism Office headed by Gilbert Marin is conducting a survey among the tourist-related establishments.
President Duterte placed the entire Iloilo province under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until June 30.