Gov’t books 2,000 hotel rooms in Metro Manila as COVID-19 isolation areas

The government has booked 2,000 hotel rooms in Metro Manila to be used as isolation areas for coronavirus patients, National Task Force Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said Thursday.

He said the government made the decision because the temporary health facilities or the We Heal as One Centers, which could accommodate 3,000 people, are already near capacity.

“Dahil nga po sa pagdami din ng tini-test natin, sa pagdami ng kaso, medyo napupuno na po sila. Kaya under Oplan Kalinga po, ang ginawa natin noong nakaraang linggo, sa tulong ng ating Department of Tourism, ay marami po tayong mga kinuhang mga hotel,” he said in an interview with presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. aired on state-run PTV.

“Iyon pong mga hotels na talagang komportable na magagamit ng ating mga kababayan habang sila ay gumagaling.”

Dizon added the government paid for the hotel rooms.

The rooms are being prepared as the government conducts Oplan Kalinga, in which local health officials go house-to-house, searching for mild and asymptomatic cases who will later be transferred to isolation facilities.

The program, however, has raised concerns as policemen will be tapped to assist in the implementation.

The government has since clarified that the police will only provide support or assistance in the transport of patients. -MDM, GMA News