COVID-19 isolation center in city faces closure, repurposing

The Iloilo City government is planning to stop using a health facility in Arevalo district as a quarantine/isolation facility as the city posts zero positive cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the past days.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said in a press briefing Monday that the facility will be used as a health station instead, where medical laboratory tests and dialysis procedures will be conducted.

“Possibly we will gradually close the quarantine facility since there are no more patients. For several days we have negative cases,” Treñas said.

He added that most of the time, persons who tested positive for COVID-19 opted to isolate at home instead of going to quarantine facilities.

Since November 2022, only one or two patients were confined to the isolation facility.

Data from the City Health Office-City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit indicated that since Jan. 6, 2023, the city posted zero cases of COVID-19.

Two positive cases were recorded on Jan 1, one each on Jan 2, 4 and 5; and six on Jan 3.

Treñas said he will be consulting with the CHO to declare the current Arevalo isolation center into ground zero, paving the way for its conversion as a mega health station complete with clinical tests, ultrasound, dialysis and x-ray.

The quarantine/isolation facility with a separate off-site dormitory for medical personnel was constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways in Feb. 2021.

The facility has 16 air-conditioned rooms each equipped with one bed and a comfort room while the off-site dormitory has 16 air-conditioned rooms with two beds and a comfort room that can accommodate 32 medical personnel. (PNA)