Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony yesterday commissioned the $12 million COVID-19 isolation facility at the Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two.
According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), the facility was previously the hospital’s maternity waiting home. However, it was decided that it should be transformed into an isolation facility and renovations commenced in November.
The facility, which has 20 rooms and can accommodate two persons in each room, is expected to be fully operational next week once it is retrofitted with the necessary equipment.
During the commissioning ceremony, Anthony commended the region for its efforts to ensure the facility was completed.
“We refurbished it with COVID-19 in mind. We have not seen that much of a spike in Region Two, but we just wanted to make sure that if there is a spike of COVID-19 cases that the Region is very well prepared,” Anthony was quoted as saying. He added that the facility will help health authorities to better monitor infected persons, who have been isolating at home.
“The hospital beds here for Covid patients have been quite limited so this is going to allow us to extend the number of beds that we have since it has space for 40 patients,” he said, adding that the facility was built to handle infectious diseases. He noted that the facility complies with all the requirements for infection control and prevention. Region One residents are also expected to benefit from the facility.
In addition to the isolation facility, Anthony also commissioned a health boat at Charity as well as the Onderneeming Health Post during his visit to the Region.
There are 18 active cases in Region Two.
