AFP, PNP deploy medical personnel to quarantine facilities

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) have deployed a total of 395 medical personnel to government-utilized quarantine facilities in Metro Manila to support the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Rodrigo Duterte reported that the AFP deployed 158 personnel to quarantine sites at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, World Trade Center, and Quezon Institute.

The PNP assigned 237 medical personnel, including doctors and nurses, to the Philippine International Convention Center quarantine facility.

In addition to military and police support, the Department of Health has approved the emergency hiring of 2,083 health workers, with 449 already signed up and assigned to Metro Manila facilities.

The country now has 1,426 COVID-referral hospitals with 9,932 beds, and 48 evacuation centers have been converted into temporary health and quarantine facilities.

As of April 30, 23,874 Filipinos have been repatriated, with 11,973 completing their mandatory quarantine.

Medical supplies and equipment, including surgical masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) sets, have been received through 181 foreign and local donations, and additional PPE sets have been procured and distributed.

The Department of Science and Technology has deployed a prototype Mobile Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Thermal Scanner, and is also working on ventilator designs.

The Philippines' COVID-19 accredited laboratories have a combined daily testing capacity of 8,935, exceeding the target of 8,000 tests per day.

To strengthen contract tracing, the Department of Health has launched 'Oplan Complete Case Information', with 32,107 close contacts traced as of April 28.