PNP opens more spaces for COVID-positive cops as isolation facility becomes full

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday said it opened up more spaces in Camp Crame, Quezon City as temporary quarantine facilities for its officers downed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas said the entire compound of Kiangan Billeting and Transient Quarters with sports facilities has been reconfigured further into quarantine facilities, with a 55-bed capacity.

“It is not true and totally unfair to speculate that our policemen are not being taken care of,” Sinas said in a statement sent to reporters.

He said Kiangan Emergency Treatment Facility is the primary quarantine complex in Camp Crame for any Covid-19 positive case.

Brig. Gen. Luisito Magnaye, Director of the PNP Health Service, said the increase in the cases was unexpected among police personnel, some of whom also brought members of their families who are infected.

There were also members of the LGUs who also availed of the existing facilities for assessment of their conditions.

The pavilion by the poolside at the back of the building and covered tennis court is a temporary holding area or triage with an 80-bed capacity where patients are assessed and examined by PNP doctors to determine further medical interventions needed.

Recently turned over by the Directorate for Logistics is an additional 57 beds in the same compound covering the tennis court and 40 more beds at the Tae Kwon Do Gym. It now provides shelter for asymptomatic patients, including those from the poolside.

Both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases are assigned to their respective quarantine facilities and individually transported by PNP ambulances to PICC, Ultra, Nice Hotel, or LGU facilities in the National Capital Region, and Clark, Magnaye said.

Those with symptoms are brought to the National Capital Region Police Office and Southern Police District facilities or any other available government hospitals.

To complement medical interventions, the PNP, through the Police Community Affairs and Development Group is undertaking the CoronaVirus Awareness Response and Empowerment (CARE) infodemic drive for PNP personnel in all regions of the country.

Different police regional and provincial/district offices and national support units have their respective quarantine facilities to address the billeting needs of personnel found positive of the virus.

Sinas just completed his quarantine on March 25, 2021 after contracting the disease on March 11.

Meanwhile, a total of 115 more police officers have recovered from Covid-19, bringing the tally to 12,123 as of Friday.

The police force’s active Covid-19 cases have reached 1,951, with 316 new infections out of a total of 14,110 cases. The death toll remained at 36. (PNA)

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)