THE Philippine National Police yesterday recorded its 25th COVID-19 fatality: a 42-year-old non- commissioned officer from Central Mindanao who died of complications arising from the virus.
The PNP Health Service also said that it recorded 24 new cases on Wednesday, which brought to 7,758 the total number of police officers and men who have contracted the virus since last March 16.
Of the total, 7,338 have already fully recovered from the diseases and are now back on full duty. PNP-HS doctors are also monitoring 395 active cases as of press time, said new PNP-HS director, Brigadier General Nolasco K. Bathan.
PNP chief General Debold M. Sinas earlier ordered all 17 Police Regional Office directors to create their own Station Health Units or SHUs and maintain adequate quarantine facilities that will cater to any of their personnel who will contract COVID-19.
The 25th PNP chief issued the instruction as he paid tribute to officers and men of the police force who have stood their ground without hesitation in order to serve the community well almost a year since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The PNP will not halt in providing our services through our community-oriented policing programs until we reach normalcy. In line with the challenges we face as one of the frontliners in combating COVID-19, we will ensure that the health of our PNP personnel will not be compromised,” he said.
Gen. Sinas said that adherence by his men to health standards and protocols will be strongly enforced. He also said that the conduct of “infodemic”’ shall be properly supervised as he ordered all 17 police regional office directors to establish and maintain quarantine facilities and Station Health Units in all police stations nationwide to act as force multipliers of the PNP-HS in the management of COVID-19 cases among their members.
“This undertaking will be backed by dedicated PNP-managed health care facilities from the PNP national headquarters down to police stations to house or cater to PNP personnel with COVID-19,” the top cop said.
