COVID patients, health workers in quarantine facilities transferred to hotels amid Rolly onslaught

COVID-19 patients and healthcare workers who are attending to them in various quarantine facilities have been transferred to different hotels and other isolation facilities in the meantime as Typhoon Rolly batters the country.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III made the remark Sunday during a briefing of government officials at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council headquarters in Quezon City.

"Ang ating mga pasyente at mga staff, inilikas sa Albay province at ito ay inilipat sa mga daycare centers, public schools, and evacuation centers," he said.

"Sa NCR naman, ang mga pasyente at ating mga empleyado ng Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Coliseum, and Filinvest, temporary treatment and monitoring facilities ay inilikas din sa iba't ibang mga hotel at motel at isolation facilities within NCR," he added.

Patients and healthcare workers at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan have likewise been transferred to hotels in NCR, Duque also said.

Logistical support, additional supplies

A total of P26.5 million-worth of logistical support has been prepared to assist individuals affected by Typhoon Rolly, according to Duque.

This amount includes medicines, medical supplies, health kits, personal protective equipment and other supplies related to COVID-19 prepositioned already in the different centers for health development (CHD).

At the same time, the DOH also has prepared P21.7 million-worth of additional supplies and commodities, Duque said, which are currently placed at the warehouse of the department's central office.

"Sa DOH central office, nakataas ang ating Code Blue Alert. Ibig sabihin nito, kalahati ng ating mga empleyado ay ating pinagreport sa Central Office at iba pang health facilities," Duque said.

"Nagpadala tayo ng mga weather alert memorandum to all centers for health development, kasama ang BARMM ministry health at mga DOH-retained hospitals patungkol sa weather disturbance and activation of code alert and 24-7 operation center," he added.

The DOH has also alerted hospitals to ensure that they have functional generator sets and their critical life-saving equipment are also prepared in case of power interruptions, Duque said.

The department is also in coordination with PAGASA for constant updates on the typhoon.

Regional offices

As to their regional offices, Duque said DOH Region V was on code red alert which means that all its employees would be required to report to work.

"Naka-preposition ang ating mga gamot, mga PPEs, at naka-alerto ang provincial DOH offices at activated emergency operations center for Typhoon Rolly sa CHD I, II, CAR, IV-A, IV-B, and V. Inalertuhan din natin ang provincial DOH offices na aktibong i-monitor at iulat ang mga insidente, mga disgrasya dahil sa bagyong ito at kanilang tugunan ito nang sapat," he said.

"Ang ating health emergency response teams naka-standby, ready for deployment, continuous coordination with concerned provincial DOH offices," he added.

Minimum health standards

Considering that the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, Duque urged those in evacuation centers to keep observing minimum health standards as much as possible.

He reminded local chief executives to deploy safety officers to evacuation centers to ensure that these health standards against COVID-19 are being practiced.

"Sa bahay man o sa evacuation centers, sikapin na mapanatili na hindi kukulangin ng isang metrong distansya sa pagitan ng sarili at iba, at iwasan ang matataong lugar hangga't maaari," he said.

At the same time, Duque also warned the public against wading in floodwaters that may put them at risk of contracting leptospirosis.

"Hangga't maaari iwasang maglakad sa baha lalo na ang may mga sugat sa paa. Kung di maiwasan ay magsuot ng protective wear or bota," he said.

"Sa mga na-expose sa tubig baha, makipag-ugnayan kaagad sa mga healthcare workers para mabigyan ng post-exposure prophylaxis kung kinakailangan para makaiwas sa nakamamatay na sakit na leptospirosis," he added.—AOL, GMA News