QC hotel tapped as quarantine facility for COVID-19 PUIs, to house frontliners

The Quezon City Government has secured a hotel-quarantine facility for persons under investigation (PUI) for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Mayor Joy Belmonte said on Wednesday.

At a press conference, Belmonte said that the 49-room hotel,  which she did not identify, will serve as an additional quarantine facility for the PUIs and begin operating as such on Thursday.

They have also secured 100 hotel room accommodations for frontline health workers.

According to Belmonte, several schools are on standby to be used as additional quarantine facilities if needed, while barangay officials have already been instructed to set up isolated wards.

There are 16 persons under investigation and 54 PUMs in Quezon City.

In response to rumors that they are not doing anything, Belmonte detailed other countermeasures being taken by the local government against the COVID-19.

The mayor pointed out the free transportation buses and shuttles being used to deliver health workers for both government and private employees as well as skeletal workers amid the enhanced community quarantine.

All barangay health response teams have been mobilized and each barangay has been provided its own ambulance, according to Belmonte.

The local government has also trained its barangay officials on home quarantine procedures.

Meanwhile, the whole city hall compound, as well as all public schools, a number of private schools, streets at the barangay level, and condominiums, have been disinfected.

Belmonte said they have also provided partition tents to the Philippine Heart Center and provided crematory services to the Philippine Lung Center.

Aside from this, the local government has distributed health kits and care packs at the barangay level for 1,000 families.

According to Belmonte, they are also providing packed foods for displaced residents and have secured food donations from the private sector to augment city efforts.

The local government on Wednesday placed two barangays with three confirmed cases each under a heightened community quarantine.

At present, there are 202 COVID-19 cases with 17 recorded fatalities nationwide. -MDM, GMA News