(File photo)
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said many police officers who have contracted coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) are asymptomatic amid the continuing surge in infections among its ranks.
“Medyo umakyat yung bilang ng ating mga pulis na na-infect pero marami po asymptomatic and since they are asymptomatic we allow them to do home quarantine for five to seven days tapos iti-test natin. Yung merong mga symptoms yun po ay nilagay sa mga quarantine facilities natin. Nagdagdag tayo ng additional 180 beds nasa training school at badminton court but we continue to provide additional bed capacity to accommodate symptomatic patients (The number of our policemen who are infected increased a bit but many are asymptomatic and since they are asymptomatic we allow them to do home quarantine for five to seven days and then we will test them. Those with symptoms were placed in our quarantine facilities. We have added an additional 180 beds in the training school and badminton court but we continue to provide additional bed capacity to accommodate symptomatic patients,” PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said in a radio interview.
This, as the PNP logged another 310 new cases on Monday, raising the active case tally to 4,015 out of a total of 45,782 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic.
Another 277 new recoveries, meanwhile, brought the total number of recoveries to 41,642 while the death toll stands at 125.
Carlos also said work continues for those who are asymptomatic and can still manage to discharge their functions while at home or inside a facility.
He added that the PNP is moving closer to fully vaccinating all of its personnel against Covid-19.
Citing the latest data as of Monday, the PNP said 216,513 personnel (96.09 percent) out of 225,313 total strength have been fully vaccinated, while 7,620 (3.38 percent) are waiting for their second dose.
About 1,181 PNP personnel (0.53 percent) have yet to receive any dose of the vaccine.
Carlos, meanwhile, added that he is now back to work after recovering from Covid-19 last week.
He also reminded personnel to always maintain a healthy body and a sound mind to effectively function as front-liners in the fight against the pandemic. (PNA)
