Rizal Memorial Coliseum may accept COVID-19 cases by Monday –Galvez

The Rizal Memorial Coliseum, which had been converted into a quarantine facility for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, could begin accepting patients by  Monday, said Secretary Carlito Galvez.

"[M]auuna po 'yung tinatawag nating Rizal Memorial Colosium. Baka sa Monday po pwede na po mag-open 'yun," the chief implementor of the national plan against the virus said in a Friday briefing.

According to Galvez, Rizal Memorial Coliseum can hold around 200 patients.

"May beds, may mga tinatawag tayong ameneties 'yan, may mga ilaw, meron po tayong mga saksakan ng cellphone, atsaka meron po'ng libreng wi-fi," Galvez said.

Aside from the Rizal Memorial, the Philippine International Convention Center and the World Trade Center would also be used as quarantine facilities.

Galvez said they were also eyeing the Philippine International Convention Center, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the Philippine Arena for conversion.

"Kung tutuusin, pagsama-samahin natin lahat ang mga pasilidad na ito, kaya po ang more or less 2,000 patients," Galvez said.

"Based on our timetable, we expect to complete the conversion of these facilities about 10 days from now," he added. — DVM, GMA News