Infographic courtesy of Angeles City information office.
ANGELES CITY, Pampanga – Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, Jr. is urging coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients here to utilize the city's isolation and quarantine facilities instead of staying at home to prevent transmission of the virus among family members.
"The city still has enough space to accommodate them. Naiintindihan po natin ang kanilang mga pangangailangan kaya tinututukan natin silang mabuti (We understand their needs that is why we are paying close attention to them,” Lazatin said in an official social media post on Wednesday.
On May 4, the mayor released a memorandum that directs all private hospitals and medical professionals here to encourage Covid-19 patients to admit themselves into the designated quarantine facilities, such as the ones at Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC), volunteered hotel rooms with 306 bed slots, the New Clark City National Government Administrative Center (NCC NGAC), and the new isolation hubs in Mexico and Lubao towns.
He said those facilities are being strictly monitored by medical health care professionals providing adequate and proper accommodations for Covid-19 patients.
The memorandum also stated that “home quarantine is not allowed, except for special conditions and circumstances that will be determined by medical practitioners of RLMMC. It is the sole discretion of the city government, through the City Health Office (CHO) to release Covid-19 patients for home quarantine following assessment at the RLMMC".
"We are also grateful to the provincial government of Pampanga, led by Governor Dennis Pineda, for giving us ample space to house our patients in their quarantine facilities,” Lazatin said.
The memorandum added that all Covid-19 cases must be reported to the established hotline of the city – 0998-842-7746 (Smart) and 097-851-8581 (Globe), managed 24/7 by the Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ACDRRMO).
The ACDRRMO will then communicate with the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) in the area where the confirmed Covid-19 patient resides.
The BHERT will then coordinate with the patient for proper extraction, as well as with the medical personnel in RLMMC to inform them that a patient will be transferred and subjected for further assessment.
Once the patient has been assessed by the RLMMC, he/she will be taken to the designated isolation area.
All symptomatic patients will be housed at the RLMMC while those with mild symptoms and who are asymptomatic will be taken to the volunteered hotel facilities.
The ACDRRMO is officially responsible for the transportation of Covid-19 patients to the RLMMC for assessment and transfer to the quarantine facilities.
“Let us provide the best care for our kababayans who are currently facing the fear of Covid-19,” Lazatin added.
As of Tuesday, there were 78 new Covid-19 cases reported in the city which brought the total number of infections to 4,917 with 905 active cases.
On the other hand, there are 49 new recoveries for a total of 3,793, while the death tally is placed at 219. (PNA)
