MANILA – The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) headquarters in Camp Karingal was placed under a three-day lockdown effective Saturday afternoon, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Monday.
In a statement, NCRPO chief, Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said the measure, which took effect 5 p.m. on Saturday until 5 p.m. Tuesday, is aimed at conducting an intensive contact tracing on those who had close contact with 13 police officers who tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 and are now at the NCRPO special care facility.
He added that the patients will be under strict evaluation and monitoring.
Likewise, the whole Camp Karingal will undergo decontamination during the lockdown.
“Immediate isolation, medical interventions, and contact tracing are being done to personnel who tested positive to the virus. Nevertheless, we have adequate vitamin supplies being distributed to them in addition to the psychosocial support services to ensure that their body and mind are healthy and strong," Sinas said.
The 13 patients, all from QCPD, and another police officer who is a member of the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region are the latest confirmed Covid-19 cases in the NCRPO, based on the results of the target group testing conducted from April 25 to 29.
Out of the total population of 1,563 inside the camp, a target group testing was conducted to a total of 219 personnel. Some 115 results, including the confirmed cases, were already released while 104 are still awaiting results.
Sinas added that an assessment will be made on the status of the 104 personnel who are awaiting swab test results to determine whether they should be placed under quarantine.
“Considering the fact that those who tested positive were previously tasked in the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Quarantine Control Points, it was deemed necessary to immediately conduct preventive measures and reactionary protocol to ensure that the virus will not thrive and infect more of our front-line workers,” Sinas said.
Meanwhile, QCPD director, Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo, who tested negative for Covid-19, is temporarily holding office at Kamuning Police Station 10 along Edsa.
"Our most important resource against this battle is our human resource. Hence, we opt to implement all possible measures to ensure their safety and guarantee that they are in their optimum health condition as they go to the frontline to face the unseen deadly virus,” Sinas said.
Meanwhile, Sinas who underwent swab testing last May 6 at the newly-opened Marikina Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory yielded negative result. (PNA)
