Imus puts up 5 tent hospitals to prepare for any COVID-19 upsurge
By Anthony Giron
IMUS, Cavite---This capital city has put up at least five "field hospitals" for use of citizens in case the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients under investigation (PUIs) and monitoring (PUMs) increase further.
The local epidemiology and surveillance unit's latest update report showed that the city has two confirmed C)VID-19 cases, excluding one that had just recovered. There were also seven PUIs still on observation and with pending tests, and 237 identified PUMs.
One of the two confirmed cases involved a medical doctor who was confined at the Rizal Provincial Hospital, while the recovered patient, a 48-year-old seaman, has already been discharged from confinement.
Of the 237 PUMs, 52 have reportedly finished quarantine.
Imus Information Officer and Anti-CoVID Spokesman Edgardo Jay D.Saquilayan said the five movable field hospitals have been put up for the meantime by the city government in different locations.
Each tent hospital has 10 beds, with one stand-by oxygen tank and other health amenities, and will be manned by a doctor, a nurse and other medical personnel.
Saquilayan said two tent hospitals were placed at the Ospital ng Imus (ONI) compound, and one each at the Velarde (Medicion) and Plaridel Health Centers, and another at a populous barangay.
The folding tents and the medical amenities were just recently procured by the city administration. The local government will also provide the medical staff in each field hospital, Saquilayan said.
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"These (the field hospitals) are being readied for the crisis caused by the COVID-19. They will be operational as the need arises," Saquilayan said.