The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) field hospital being constructed at Burnham Green at the Rizal Park will be mainly dedicated to mild and moderate cases, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said.

“This is 4,402 square meters with a 336 Covid-bed facility… for mild and moderate Covid-19 patients so that mapagaan natin ang foot traffic o demand sa Covid bed sa hospital setting (so we could ease the foot traffic, as well as the demand for Covid beds in hospital settings),” Domagoso said during his Facebook live update late Tuesday.

He said mild and moderate patients in the city’s six district hospitals would be transferred to the Covid-19 field hospital once it is completed.

He added that a director would be assigned to oversee its operations and the Manila Health Department’s medical doctors and nurses would man the field hospital.

Domagoso said he would put up more intensive care units (ICU) inside the hospitals once public hospitals in Manila get decongested.

“Kailangan yan ng specialized equipment. Bilang paghahanda, bumibili naman ang lungsod ng mga ICU equipment. Habang binibili natin ngayon, tuloy-tuloy ang construction (Specialized equipment are needed. To prepare for that, the city government is in the process of acquiring ICU equipment. While we are procuring that, the construction is ongoing),” he said.

Currently, hospitals can only accommodate severe and critical Covid-19 cases.

Domagoso said the city government thought of constructing the field hospital following reports that mild and moderate Covid-19 patients have died while in the triage or tents, or at parking areas in hospitals while waiting to be admitted.

He acknowledged that the Covid-19 field hospital is a very ambitious project that was patterned after a similar facility in Italy.

The city government allotted PHP154 million for its construction and it is expected to be completed within two months.

Manila’s field hospital will be fully air-conditioned and equipped with internal communication (intercom), Internet access, and separate wards for female and male patients.

Food will also be provided to patients for free.

Meanwhile, Domagoso said the city of Manila is hiring medical professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and nursing aids.

The city’s six district hospitals have a 75-percent occupancy rate, with 392 Covid-19 beds occupied out of 523 beds.

The Covid-19 field hospital will be a temporary structure since it stands on land only lent to the city by the Rizal Park Administration and the Department of Tourism.

“Pansamanatala nating hihiramin. Pagka natapos ang pandemyang ito, ang City of Manila ay ibabalik yan sa maayos na kondisyon (We will temporarily use this area. After the pandemic, the City of Manila will return this in good condition),” Domagoso said. (PNA)