(File photo)
MANILA – The number of police officers infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has reached 2,621.
As of 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Health Service reported 83 new confirmed Covid-19 infections among its ranks.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,757 personnel have recovered from the disease while the death toll remained at 12.
It is also monitoring 853 probable cases and 2,152 suspected cases.
More than 900 of the confirmed cases were from the National Capital Region (NCR) and were deployed as front-liners to patrol and quarantine checkpoint duties.
PNP Chief, Gen. Archie Gamboa, said Central Visayas, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon police offices follow the NCR in terms of areas with the most number of Covid-19 cases among cops.
Last August 8, NCR Police Office (NCRPO) Chief, Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, presided over a dialogue with doctors for the development of a strategic preparedness and response plan for Covid-19 in Metro Manila that would ensure the wellness of policemen assigned in the metropolis without compromising the performance of their duties and responsibilities.
Among the topics discussed were safety measures during the conduct of quarantine control points, safe physical distancing patrols, and dealing with community quarantine violators.
Sinas said the medical experts also suggested prioritizing high-risk PNP personnel, vulnerable, and poor people in swab testing and the involvement of quarantine violators in community service, such as cleaning and planting.
They also said police personnel should be inoculated with pneumococcal and flu vaccines regularly to boost their immune system and that an officer in every police station should closely monitor their health conditions through a daily checklist and health declaration form.
“We will strictly enforce and implement the policies and guidelines set by the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) for all the men and women of NCRPO to include the experts’ recommendations. At the end of the day, the health and welfare of our personnel is our paramount concern because their safety equates to the safety of the people we serve,” Sinas added. (PNA)
