28.5 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

9:06 PM

28.5 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

9:06 PM

LGUs enjoined to increase isolation units

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–Responding to the increasing number of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 cases in the region, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 enjoins local provinces to increase their isolation centers from 500 to 1,000.


With the influx of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) who wish to return to their home provinces, DILG Regional Director Arnel Agabe said establishing enough number of Ligtas COVID Centers will aid in handling the returnees as well as the COVID-19 cases in the provinces during the NorMin COVID-19 Response Task Force press conference, July 28.


In the region, Bukidnon already has 364 isolation units with 2,783 beds of which 742 have been occupied and 2,041 beds are available. For Camiguin, there are 68 isolation units established with 753 beds of which 154 are occupied and 599 are available.


Lanao del Norte has 513 isolation units with 2,789 beds of which 1,749 are occupied and 1,040 are available. For Misamis Occidental, there are 643 isolation units established with 3,306 beds of which 1,010 are occupied and 2,296 are available.


Misamis Oriental has 282 units with 1,594 beds of which 1,469 are occupied and only 125 are available. Agabe said they are currently coordinating with the local government of the province for the latter might run out of isolation beds any time now. 


Cagayan de Oro City has 126 units with 2,597 beds of which 1,560 are occupied and 1,037 are available. Iligan has 3 units with 169 beds of which 115 are occupied and 54 are available. 


Agabe reiterates that DILG Sec. Eduardo Año already got a nod from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to provide or construct the needed isolation facility in provinces. “LGUs will just need to come up with the lot area where the isolation units will be built,” Agabe said. 


For his part, Department of Health (DOH)-10 Regional Director Dr. Adriano Suba-an said they had strengthened the capacity of the Temporary Treatment and Monitoring (TTMFs) in the region, where 23 are already PhilHealth-accredited, 20 are community -based and three are hospital-based. 


As of July 28, the region has 480 confirmed COVID-19 cases of which 249 have recovered, 11 have expired, and 220 are recovering. (RTP/PIA10)