Thousands Of Police Frontliners Considered As Persons Under Monitoring For COVID-19

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday, March 28, confirmed that a third police officer tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

PNP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, said the patient is a 35-year-old Pasay City police officer who was confirmed positive for the virus based on the findings by the Research Institute for Tropical Management (RITM) on Friday.

“All three are undergoing self-quarantine/isolation and also observing all DOH (Department of Health) protocols in managing the three confirmed COVID-19 cases,” Brig. Gen. Banac said.

The first patient is a 32-year-old police officer assigned in Metro Manila who has been on home quarantine since March 14.

The second patient is a 52-year-old police officer assigned in Laguna who earlier showed COVID-19 symptoms.

He said they are being closely monitored by PNP doctors.

As of Saturday, Brig. Gen. Banac said a total of 1,228 PNP personnel (246 police commissioned officers, police non-commissioned officers) are considered as persons under monitoring (PUMs) for COVID-19.

Thousands of policemen are currently on the frontline to implement the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine since March 17, mostly manning quarantine control points on the boundaries between towns, cities, and provinces.

He said the PNP Health Service is also keeping tabs on 97 personnel (21 PCO, 72 PNCO) listed as patients under investigation (PUIs).

“All these police personnel have been ordered to go on self-quarantine/isolation for further observation subject to possible testing as may be determined by parameters set by DOH,” Brig. Gen. Banac said. 

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Brig. Gen. Banac also confirmed the death of a police officer on Saturday morning who was earlier listed as a PUM.

“According to the PNP Health Service, the deceased, who succumbed to cardiac arrest, had a history of exposure to a COVID-positive person and has since been on self-quarantine for one week. DOH has recommended cremation within 12 hours,” he said.

Brig. Gen. Banac added that the police officer “did not undergo a prior test, being a PUM” and “was asymptomatic and had hypertension based on his medical history”.

Policemen are considered among the government frontliners in preventing the spread of COVID-19 aside from soldiers, firemen, social workers, health workers, and other government workers.

Source: PNA