AFP opens Rizal Memorial Coliseum quarantine facility

Published May 18, 2020, 2:22 PM

A new quarantine facility at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Malate, Manila was inaugurated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday to provide isolation rooms for suspected coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients.

General Felimon Santos, AFP Chief of Staff, said the facility with a capacity of 100 beds will be manned by an emergency medical team from the AFP Health Service Command composed of four military doctors, nine military nurses, and 17 medical aides.

An administrative staff consisting of six military officers and six enlisted Personnel will also join the team.

The quarantine facility is expected to decongest the hospitals and other medical facilities which are attending to COVID-19 patients.

According to the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, a total of 3,073 quarantine facilities with combined bed capacity of 63,934 were established around the country for COVID-19 patients, probable and suspected cases, and persons under monitoring (PUMs).

Of these, 8,032 beds were accommodated as of Sunday.

Santos also took pride in the country’s frontliners whom he described as “modern-day heroes” as they “continue to fight as one in the name of patriotism and the undeniable love for humanity.”

“The AFP takes pride in our military doctors, nurses, and security personnel who continue to risk their lives battling the dreaded disease in the frontlines,” Santos said.

“The military organization is grateful, especially to our members manning the temporary treatment facilities in aide of our people who currently face the threat of the virus,” he added.

The inauguration was attended by senior military officers led by Col. Nelson Pecache, the AFP Surgeon General; Lt. Col. Barbara Lolloni Conte, Chief of Health Care Services, Regional Task Force National Capital Region (RJTF NCR) CARE; and Major Service representatives.

Also present were retired Brig. Gen. John Pulido of the Office of the Secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways, representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), and other National Task Force COVID-19 officials.

After the blessing ceremony, a lecture on post-mortem care for COVID-19 patients was given by Mr. Ruel Capunan of the Department of Interior and Local Government. It was attended by 30 medical workers.

As of Sunday, the DOH said a total of 12,513 COVID-19 cases in the country were confirmed with 2,635 recoveries and 824 deaths.

SOURCE: https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/05/18/afp-opens-rizal-memorial-coliseum-quarantine-facility/