MANILA - Authorities have finished converting the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila into a quarantine facility for patients with COVID-19, a leader of the county's pandemic plan said Wednesday.
The facility can house 112 patients who have tested positive and are showing mild symptoms and those from the Philippine General Hospital who are already close to recovery, said COVID-19 Response Chief Implementor Carlito Galvez Jr. said.
"Puwede na pong buksan itong Rizal Memorial Stadium," he told DZMM.
(The Rizal Memorial Stadium can now be open.)
The Armed Forces will lend 500 medical personnel to the stadium and the World Trade Center in Pasay, which is eyed to house patients with symptoms who are still waiting for COVID-19 test results, said Galvez.
The Philippine Arena in Bulacan north of the capital, the world's largest indoor arena, will be ready in "1 or 2 days" to accept patients from the Camanava area, which includes Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela, he said.
Another converted facility, the Philippine International Convention Center would open to COVID-19 patients on Saturday or Sunday, said Galvez.
The Philippines as of Tuesday confirmed 3,764 cases of COVID-19, with 177 deaths and 84 patients who recovered.
President Rodrigo Duterte on the same day extended a Luzon-wide lockdown until April 30 to halt the spread of the respiratory disease.
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