Philippines' COVID-19 mega quarantine sites in 'danger zone' -DOH

The national government's mega quarantine facilities for COVID-19 are now over 70% full, the Department of Health said on Wednesday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the following mega temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs) are now in the "danger zone": Ultra Stadium, Quezon Institute, Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Philippine Arena, and the ASEAN Convention Center.

The DOH has said the “safe zone” referred to 0% to 30% of utilization of COVID-19-dedicated facilities, “warning zone” to 30% to 70% utilization, and the “danger zone” to 70% to 100% utilization.

Vergeire also said that the occupancy rate of TTMFs in Metro Manila and in Regions 1, 7, 10, and 12 was in the warning zone as of July 28.

Meanwhile, the overall occupancy rate of the 81,636 beds in TTMFs nationwide stood at 24%.

“In line with the data given above, we reiterate the government’s continuing need to augment our human resources for health,” Vergeire said.

The government earlier discouraged home quarantine for COVID-19-positive individuals and advocated for a facility-based quarantine.

Isolation czar and Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar has said the government was eyeing 50 more quarantine facilities within the next three weeks.

Vergeire earlier admitted that the country’s healthcare system was close to being overwhelmed by the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

The Philippines has logged more than 85,000 COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday afternoon. -NB, GMA News