Cimatu eyes moving all isolation facilities in Cebu City from barangay communities to coastal area

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu wants to relocate all isolation facilities in Cebu City from barangays to the coastal area.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita on Wednesday, Cebu’s COVID-19 response overseer Cimatu suspected that the location of the facilities contributes to the further spread of the virus.

“Talaga dapat lang naman ilipat 'yung mga isolation (facilities) kasi may mga isolation center sila rito sa gitna ng kanilang barangay, usually sa mga eskuwelahan, elementary schools,” he said.

“Ang suspect ko dito nanggagaling ang pag-spread ng virus. Kailangan ilikas natin dito sa malapit sa shoreline,” he added.

Due to this, Cimatu said the New Normal Oasis for Adaptation and a Home (NOAH) Complex is now being used as a quarantine facility.

“'Yan nga 'yung sa malapit sa dagat. Isa 'yun e. In place na 'yun. At saka nagre-receive na sila ng mga pasyente doon,” he said.

NOAH Complex quarantine facility, a project of the local government and private sector, can accommodate more than 300 mild to moderate COVID-19 patients. It will also house doctors, nurses, and barangay health workers who will be assigned to the complex.

Retired MGen. Melquiades Feliciano, who is assisting Cimatu, earlier said the complex also includes birthing areas for expectant mothers. A wing of the complex was retrofitted to create space for a labor room, delivery room, and a nursery room.

Aside from this, Cimatu said the Cebu Coliseum is being offered to be utilized as a quarantine facility as well.

'Yung coliseum na 'yan ay in-offer kasi maganda raw naman na paglalagyan. Similar to what we have done there in Metro Manila,” he said.—AOL, GMA News