In order to accommodate the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is converting shipping containers into mobile health facilities.

The department has prepared design plans for four high cube containers, measuring 40 feet long, eight feet wide and nine feet tall. These will be connected to create a mobile field hospital that can accommodate the possible isolation and treatment of 16 probable COVID-19 cases.

A 40-feet shipping container will be divided into four rooms, designed to have proper ventilation, a toilet and a bath as per Department of Health guidelines and recommendations. The DPWH has also prepared design plans for high cube shipping containers 20 feet long, which can be converted into nurse stations and temporary quarters for healthcare service personnel.

“While spread of infection seems to have slowed down because of the enhanced community quarantine, we just have to be ready in the event that the situation worsens,” explained DPWH Secretary Mark Villar in a press release. The secretary noted that they are prepared to convert available shipping containers to mobile health facilities, which can easily be installed in hospital grounds or open spaces.

Header photo by Tri Eptaroka Mardiana on Unsplash

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