LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- With the spike of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in Benguet province, additional quarantine facilities are being prepared.
Governor Melchor Diclas explained the increase in cases is due to the expanded testing conducted in Benguet, pushing the need for more quarantine facilities in the different towns to house Covid-19 patients.
The Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) disclosed there are 26 active out of the 36 confirmed cases in the province as of June 18.
"There are many (municipal quarantine facilities) identified, however, this needs to be fully operational. There are also requirements from DOH that needs to be satisfied before they operate," he added.
Dr. Mercedes Calpito of the Department of Health-Benguet said they are also assisting the identified isolation facilities in every town to comply with the standards set by the health department.
The governor said one quarantine facility being utilized in the province, which also serves as a triage center, is the Benguet Training Center (BTC) in Wangal, La Trinidad. It is now a temporary quarantine facility for locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning overseas Filipino workers (ROFWs).
As of June 16, there are 21 patients admitted to the facility, composed of four OFWs and 17 LSIs who were brought by the province from various parts of Luzon.
Since its opening, the facility accommodated 438 individuals.
Diclas said needed manpower and equipment for the proposed provincial isolation facility–the Benguet Evacuation Center in La Trinidad–is also being prepared.
The evacuation center has a 35-bed capacity.
Also identified as a quarantine facility is the Benguet State University Dormitory, which has a 16-bed capacity. However, the provincial government is waiting for the approval from the Commission on Higher Education.
Most asymptomatic positive and suspected cases are brought to the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH).
Doctor Meliarazon Dulay, BeGH chief, on Friday said there are 23 admitted patients in the hospital as of noon of June 19, including the new confirmed cases in La Trinidad involving one health worker and student.
To decongest BeGH, the governor said they allowed other Benguet district hospitals with isolation facilities to admit positive Covid-19 patients who are asymptomatic.
During the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force meeting, health officials also presented the management of Covid-19 positive cases wherein positives, asymptomatic, and no active comorbidity may be admitted to district hospitals and other identified provincial local government unit isolation facilities.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police personnel who are Covid-19-positive are admitted to Camp Bado Dangwa.
Colonel Elmer Ragay, Benguet Provincial Police Office director, said there is a covered court inside the camp that has been converted into a quarantine facility.
With a 23-bed capacity, it has accommodated police officers mostly suspected Covid-19 cases. Personnel who tested positive for the virus are directed to BeGH.
The provincial director added there are seven nurses at the Triage area in the Wangal site.
