Floating hospitals: Two ships to be converted into quarantine facilities for repatriated Filipino seafarers
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is working with 2GO Group, Inc. in converting two of their private passenger vessels into quarantine ships for repatriated Filipino seafarers, as proposed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
One of 2Go Shipping's passenger vessels| Photo by coastguardph (FB)
In an effort to control the spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), DOTr, PCG, and 2Go Group, Inc. will work together in order to transform two passenger ships into floating hospitals or quarantine ships, in time for the arrival of approximately 400 repatriated Pinoy seafarers onboard a Panama-flagged cruise ship.
Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) returning or being repatriated to the country are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine period. And since most hospitals in Metro Manila are already overwhelmed with the large number of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) patients they're caring for, the quarantine ships would be the next best alternative to actual hospitals.
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Authorities inspecting one of the passenger vessels to be converted into quarantine ships| Photo by DOTrPH (FB)
The two ships of the 2Go Group, M/V St. John Paul II and M/V St. Anthony de Padua, are already docked at Pier 15, Port Area, Manila, and have been inspected by the DOH.
According to the PCG, each ship can accommodate up to 1,500 patients each. The first quarantine ship will be used to house persons under investigation (PUI), while the other one will be used as a temporary facility for persons under monitoring (PUM), or people who have COVID-19 symptoms but have no history of exposure.
What is the difference beween PUI and PUM?
DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade has emphasized in a statement the importance of converting the passenger ships into quarantine facilities. He said, “Importante talaga na mag-bayanihan tayo sa panahong ito--mapa-gobyerno, mapa-pribadong sektor, kailangang magtulungan para sa bayan.
“We must always be prepared to face worst-case scenarios. Most hospitals in Metro Manila have already pleaded for help in attending to COVID-19 patients. Some of them can no longer accept more patients due to overcapacity.
“And that is what we are trying to address here. We will deploy these 'quarantine ships' to help our hospitals, our healthworkers, and our countrymen. Malaking tulong ito sa mga kababayan natin”
One of the two ships docked at Pier 15, Port Area, Manila| Photo by coastguardph (FB)
The PCG reports that the quarantine ships shall be operational this week, in anticipation of the arrival of the 400 repatriated Pinoy seafarers to the country.
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