The municipal government may have to open additional isolation centers to cater to the quarantine and isolation requirements of suspected and probable Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases that is currently being triggered by the more infectious and more transmissible Micron variant.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda reported that one of the isolation centers that are likely to be opened is the 45-bed isolation facility of the municipal government in Longlong, Puguis for the increasing number of COVID-19 patients requiring isolation and for their close contacts to undergo the required quarantine period.
He claimed that the local government is simply awaiting the inspection that will be conducted by the regional office of the health department for the compliance of the facility to the standards set by the agency for the same to be operational.
The municipal chief executive admitted that the town’s isolation center located within a private property in Longlong is nearing full occupancy that is why local officials are trying to work out the operation of the newly constructed isolation facility to ensure its eventual operation because of the growing need for the isolation needs of suspected and probable COVID-19 patients.
However, Mayor Salda pointed out that most of the confirmed COVID-19 cases are mostly asymptomatic and mild and it is highly recommended by health authorities that they undergo home isolation so that there will be available isolation units for moderate and severe cases that will have to be confined in the said facilities and the existing government and private hospitals.
Further, he stipulated that what is happening with the recent surge in cases is that several household members get infected thus it is best for them to undergo home isolation when they are mild or asymptomatic until they recover.
According to him, the local government is also studying the possible opening of the senior citizens center right at the heart of the municipality as an additional isolation facility.
Last month, the local government decided to close some of its isolation centers that had been opened at the height of the surge of the Delta variant after many patients recovered from the deadly virus that caused the significant decline in the number of cases in the capital town.
The mayor urged the residents to sustain their compliance to the implementation of the minimum public health standards to prevent them from contracting the more infectious and more transmissible Omicron variant which seems to be causing the surge in cases because what matters at this time is the health and safety of the people.
At present, La Trinidad has the greatest number of COVID-19 cases in Benguet and that it continues to record significant increases in the number of cases daily thus it is important to avoid the possible overwhelming of the local health care system and the stress to the frontliners.