Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has tasked Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and Bureau of Permits chief Levi Facundo to talk to owners of motels and hotels for the possibility of using them as quarantine facilities, owing to what he termed as a “resurgence” of COVID-19 cases.
Domagoso noted that despite the many quarantine facilities built by the city government, the recent alarming spike in the number of residents getting infected with COVID-19 may fill up all the facilities.
Thus, he said the task given to the vice mayor and Facundo will be part of preparations for a possible spillover in the coming weeks, as predicted by some health experts and in view of the unprecedented speed of increase in COVID-19 cases.
Domagoso lamented that the city government’s assigned COVID beds in the city-run hospitals and the quarantine facilities have recently registered high occupancy rates the city has never experienced in the past year it had been battling the pandemic.
The mayor said 300 quarantine beds will be added to the existing facilities to accommodate a possible surge in the coming days.
Noting that the transmission is now within families, Domagoso advised residents to wear masks at all times, even if one is inside the home or vehicle, and to always assume that the one beside him or her is a virus carrier.
Domagoso also announced that the Manila Emergency Operations Center (MEOC), which handles emergency situations including those involving COVID patients, has added contact numbers since the current ones are constantly busy due to the numerous requests and queries.
He likewise appealed to Manila residents to act as if the city is under the enhanced community quarantine status, even if it is actually under a general community quarantine state.