Amid the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) here, the city government aims to further improve the holding and isolation facilities within the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

In a radio interview Friday, Mayor Sara Z. Duterte said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is setting up 10 container vans to serve as an isolation facility at SPMC. At the same time, the Aboitiz group is also donating tents to improve the holding area at the hospital’s isolation facilities.

“The city government is on construction and site preparation. Aboitiz will turn over the tents on Monday (Nov. 23). We will have these holding areas fixed because we want patients who are not yet called on the isolation to rest comfortably,” Duterte said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ashley Lopez, Department of Health and City Health Office focal person on Covid-19, said Thursday that apart from SPMC, the city also has three existing testing centers: the Davao One World Diagnostics, Davao Doctors Hospital, and the Sta. Ana Health Center.

Lopez said three more reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machines are coming and will be installed at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport, the Los Amigos Health Center, and Davao Doctors Hospital.

“We are also working with DOH to create a makeshift or mobile laboratory for additional testing sites in the city. Currently, the city already has a mobile laboratory in Rizal Memorial Colleges and Mamay Inn for Covid positive mild cases,” he added.

Likewise, the city will also put three community swabbing collection areas in Toril, Bunawan, and Calinan.

“These will be strategically placed in these areas to cater people in Toril, Bunawan, and Calinan so that they wouldn’t be hassled to go to the city just for testing,” Lopez said.

“These additional facilities would help us not only for access or accommodate more patients for testing, but this will help us out in reducing our cases and intensify our case-finding,” he added. (PNA)

Photo Credit: www.davaocity.gov.ph