An all-in-one COVID-19 complex that has its own swabbing center, quarantine and isolation facility, and a molecular laboratory in Lakeshore Hotel, City of Taguig was inaugurated Friday.
Led by its local government under the guidance of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19, and the Department of Health (DOH), the construction of the COVID-19 Complex seeks to bring together these three essential facilities to hit the city’s target of testing 10 percent of its total population by the end of 2021.
Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano said the first section of the 500-bed facility will soon be opened to cater COVID-19 patients in the city. Its modular molecular laboratory is expected to process 600 tests daily.
“We listen to the science. We listen to the doctors. We listen to the Barangay Captains who know the situation in their respective barangays,” said Cayetano, as he expressed his thanks to the IATF, NTF, DOH and his local team in making the project possible.
As of September 24, Taguig City reported a total of 389 active cases out of the 6,988 total confirmed cases in the city. The city reported a recovery rate of 94 percent, or 6,544 recoveries and 0.79 percent case fatality rate or 56 deaths — a rate lower than that of the National Capital Region (1.60%).
Health Secretary and IATF Chairperson Francisco Duque III congratulated Taguig for recording one of the lowest numbers of active cases and lowest case fatality rate in NCR.
“Napakahalaga po ng papel na ginagampanan ng ating mga LGUs sa ating laban kontra-COVID-19. Ito pong ginawa ng Taguig City ay maging halimbawa sana at pamarisan pa ng iba pang mga LGUs dahil sa laban pong ito, dapat magkatuwang ang national government at ang lokal na pamahalaan,” the Health Chief explained.
NTF Co-Chairperson Secretary Eduardo Año also commended the city, saying: “Ito ang tunay pangangalaga na kailangan ng mamamayan, complete package!”
According to the National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr., “This is a local victory, but this is also a national victory,” emphasizing that every success in the national COVID-19 response “is a success of everyone.”