Moses Isolation Facility not busy these days

CEBU, Philippines —  Nearly a month since the reopening of the Moses Isolation Facility, formerly known as the Cebu City Quarantine Center, only six patients have stayed and used the facility.

According to the manager of the facility, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, this is an indication that the cases of COVID-19 in Cebu City are, indeed, declining.

This is also a sign, she said, that most of those infected have not acquired mild to moderate symptoms, who are the priority to be housed in the facility.

The Moses facility was built in 2020 to address the lack of isolation area in the city.  It was closed for many months when the COVID-19 cases were down.

It has been renamed Moses because according to Mayor Michael Rama, the prophet Moses was a liberator, and the reopening of the facility is a symbol of liberation from the pandemic.

Data from Cebu City Emergency Operations Center yesterday showed 16 new cases of COVID-19 in the city, and only 276 active cases.

The positivity rate stood at 3.21%.

It was also learned that only 15 patients are currently staying at the Barangay Isolation Centers (BICa) out of their more than 200-bed capacity.

More than 40 personnel have been assigned to the Moses Isolation Facility.

It is manned by four doctors, nine nurses, security, admin staff, ambulance crew, and more.

The Cebu City Health Department is also sending medicines to the facility. The CCQC was temporarily closed for repair after it was damaged by Typhoon Odette in December last year.

The main area of the facility has 120 beds and it will be expanded through hospital tents of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).

Cebu City Government allotted P17 million for the operations of the facility.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also donated its dormitory near the CCQC which can be used as isolation facility for frontliners who will test positive for COVID-19.

Amid the pandemic, the city government has urged residents to prepare for any situation and to follow health protocols. — JMD (FREEMAN)