Barangays told to set up own isolation units as city closed main facility

With the closure of the Baguio City Community Isolation Unit (BCCIU) at the Sto. Nino Hospital effective Feb. 1, 2023, barangays were tasked to set up their own isolation facilities to cater to constituents who cannot provide their own home isolation.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong in Memorandum No. 11-2023 dated Jan. 25, 2023 to the barangays reiterated the requirement to put up barangay isolation units to serve the isolation needs of residents with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) who do not have suitable areas for said purpose.

The mayor said this is in compliance with Dept. of Health Administrative Order No. 2021-0043 entitled “Omnibus Guidelines on the Minimum Public Health Standards for the Sale Reopening of Institutions” specifically VI.C.3.a. which states “Asymptomatic and mild cases shall be admitted and isolated in Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs), community-based facilities or in their homes as long as they meet the criteria for home quarantine or isolation…”

“Since the hospital beds used (in isolation units) had been distributed to the different agencies and barangays, it is highly directed for the recipients to set up their own isolation facilities before February 2023 to accommodate their constituents who test positive for COVID-19 and who do not have homes conducive for isolation,” the mayor said.

He asked the barangays to contact the City Health Services Office for any technical assistance needed in setting up their units.  

Medical Officer IV Dr. Maria Alice Torres who had been in charge of the city-run quarantine and isolation facilities said the cessation of operations of the BCCIU was decided after the facility did not receive new admissions for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the past two weeks. – Aileen P. Refuerzo