Philippines eyeing hospitals exclusively for COVID-19 cases —Duque

The Department of Health is looking to establish at least two facilities exclusively for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients as confirmed cases continued to rise in the country.

In an interview on "24 Oras", Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said plans are being finalized for a 140-bed facility for COVID-19 patients at the Philippine General Hospital Manila.

He said health authorities are also working on putting up 120 beds exclusively for COVID-19 cases at the Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Tala, Caloocan.

"Ang magiging kasunduan ay yung mga COVID-patients ng private hospitals ay pwede nang i-concentrate doon sa mga PGH atsaka dito sa itatayo na COVID-19 hospital," Duque said.

Patients at the PGH will then be moved to other public and private hospitals in exchange, he said.

Duque urged hospitals with diminishing protective equipment to contact the DOH.

Duque, who went into self-quarantine after a health director tested positive for COVID-19, said he had so far no symptoms of the virus.

"Pero wala akong lagnat, wala naman akong sintomas ng acute respiratory illness, so wala namang ganon," Duque said.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 217 on Thursday. -NB, GMA News