Rizal Memorial Coliseum may be used as COVID-19 quarantine facility by April 8

Retired general Carlito Galvez Jr. on Monday said the Rizal Memorial Coliseum would be ready to use as a quarantine facility by Wednesday.

"Masaya ko pong ibabalita sa inyo na ang Rizal Memorial Coliseum ay tapos na po at puwede na pong magsimula ngayong Wednesday. Ito po ay sa pangangalaga ng ating AFP Medical Service Command at ng DOH," Galvez said during a virtual press briefing.

"Itinalaga po ng ating chief of staff ang more or less three to five doctors at 50 nurses that will be on shifting after seven days..." he added.

Galvez said the facility could accommodate a total of 120 hospital beds.

Galvez said mild cases of COVID-19 would be housed inside the Rizal Memorial Coliseum while persons under investigation will stay at the World Trade Center.

Earlier in the day, Galvez, together with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, led the inspection of the facilities in Metro Manila which will be used as quarantine areas.

Aside from the coliseum, they also visited the Philippine International Convention Center Forum Halls and the World Trade Center.

Galvez said other regions are also determining which facilities will be used as quarantine sites in their respective areas.

The Philippine government has planned to isolate all persons under investigation and persons under monitoring in these facilities as part of the interventions to control the spread of COVID-19. —LDF, GMA News