US donates 1,300 cots for PH coronavirus patients

Photo courtesy of US Embassy in Manila

MANILA, Philippines — The United States has donated some 1,300 cots to support the Philippine government’s efforts against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a statement Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Manila said the cots intended for patients of COVID-19 were turned over to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

“I’m pleased to be able to hand over these new cots, on behalf of the U.S. government, to our Philippine partners.  We stand together with the Philippines, as both of our nations work to save lives and protect our people in the fight against COVID-19,” U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said.

The embassy said the U.S. also provided cots for frontliners of the Department of Health (DOH) at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) “who are providing critical diagnosis, treatment, and care.”

Photo courtesy of US Embassy in Manila

“The cots were originally intended for the Balikatan 2020 joint military exercise,” the embassy said.

The Balikatan 2020 military exercises of the Philippines and the U.S.’ armed forces were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier, the U.S. said it donated $4 million or approximately P200 million for the Philippines’ COVID-19 response.

The viral illness has so far infected more than 4,000 persons nationwide.

The embassy said the aid supports efforts like “laboratory system preparedness, case-finding and event-based surveillance, technical expert response and preparedness, risk communication, and infection prevention.”

Globally, the virus has infected over 1.5 million people with the number of fatalities at over 95,000.

The U.S. has so far recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases with over 450,000 people infected.

GSG