Valenzuela turns drug rehab center into COVID-19 isolation facility for asymptomatic patients

The Valenzuela local government has decided to turn a building originally intended to be a drug rehabilitation center into the city's central isolation facility for asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

A 24 Oras report said four COVID-19 positive patients - Patients 48, 50, 51, 52 - were brought into the fully air-conditioned facility, called Balai Banyuhay, on Friday.

The building, which can accommodate 70 patients, will house COVID-19 positives who are already on their way to recovery.

"Iyong mga paseyente natin na dadalhin sa mga central isolation room, sila iyong mga asymptomatic. Iyon nga iyong mga nakuhang kaso, mga [persons under monitoring] natin nung nakaraan," said Zyan Caina, Valenzuela Public Information Office chief.

"Dadalhin pa rin sa hospital ung may mga sintomas," he added.

Meanwhile, the Valenzuela Astrodome will also be housing 70 COVID-19 positive patients who are also asymptomatic.

Each patient will stay in a 3x3-meter isolation tent that comes with a bed, a bedside table, a chair and an electric fan.

Another 90 patients, meanwhile, will be accommodated at the Dalandanan National High School.

The TV report said the city has a total isolation capacity of 230 asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.

"Possible tumaas ang positive cases kasi iyon ang target ng mass testing talaga, hinahanap natin sino ang positibo para ma-isolate sila from the communities at maalagaan sila," Caina said.

As of posting time, the city has so far recorded 55 positive cases, five deaths, and four recoveries. -MDM, GMA News