Yesterday, we monitored a video that was posted in the social media which showed that one of our medical assessment and isolation facilities at the National Headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City, the Kiangan Emergency Treatment Facility, was crowded by our personnel who tested positive for the coronavirus.
We confirm that it indeed happened early this week at a time when the PNP was recording unprecedented number of COVID-19 cases. But measures were immediately undertaken during that time to provide the medical needs of our personnel such as deployment of more PNP medical and healthcare workers at Kiangan, deployment of more beds and setting up of more tents purposely to accommodate more personnel beyond the isolation facility’s maximum 55-bed capacity.
As early as last year, Kiangan was also designated as both medical assessment area and transit point for our COVID-19 personnel assigned at the NHQ at Camp Crame and nearby areas before their transfer to other PNP isolation facilities like in NCRPO regional headquarters, ULTRA, PICC and the Nice Hotel. This is part of the PNP COVID-19 protocol wherein PNP personnel who would test positive for coronavirus must report for medical assessment at Kiangan and in the event that the bed capacity is already full, it serves as a holding area before they are transported to other PNP isolation facilities.
But long before this incident happened especially starting March 15 when we noticed a rise in COVID-19 cases among our personnel, we have already initiated measures to identify other isolation facilities in anticipation of upsurge of cases in the PNP. In fact last week, our Chief PNP, Police General Debold M Sinas, has approved our recommendation to look for more isolation facilities inside Camp Crame for this purpose.
The incident that was captured in a video which was posted in the social media and eventually reported in the media is consistent with the confirmed reports that medical facilities in Metro Manila are already crowded with COVID-19 patients. On the part of the PNP, we have taken measures to address the anticipated problem of influx of more COVID-19 positive personnel and in fact, preparations were already underway before this incident happened.
Among them were the conversion of our Taekwondo gym to an isolation facility with 40-bed capacity, former Dehta Restautant with 11 bed capacity and Provident and other offices which have 46 bed capacity. Our Tennis Court was also converted into a temporary isolation with at least 100 bed capacity for new COVID positive patients while awaiting assessment and transfer to our other isolation facilities, while more equipment were put in place in our Triage area beside the swimming pool. The temporary isolation facility at the Tennis Court was already operational since last night while the rest will be available on April 1.
As what I have stated before, the PNP is part of the general population and since the country, particularly Metro Manila is experiencing upsurge of cases, we expect the same result especially that we are on the frontline of implementing the quarantine rules.
As a matter of policy, part of our pro-active measures is the conduct of regular RT-PCR tests for our personnel, especially those assigned in Metro Manila, in order to have a daily clear picture of the COVID-19 situation in our organization. And since we have our own molecular laboratories, the results are immediately released and are sent directly to the concerned PNP personnel via SMS through our PNP-CODA (COVID Data) online system. Our personnel, on the other hand, have been instructed to immediately report to the nearest PNP health stations for medical assessment and isolation.
Our regular and rotational RT-PCR for all our Metro Manila-based personal is usually done by office or unit and even if they do not show symptoms. We cannot just isolate our personnel after their RT-PCR test and while waiting for the result because this will cripple the operation of their respective offices especially at this time when modified working arrangement is already in place.
Those who made close contact with COVID-19 positive are classified into two categories in the contact-tracing activity. PNP personnel who are not wearing both face mask and face shield and did not observe physical distancing during the time of close contact are classified as high-risk and are mandated to undergo quarantine. These high-risk close contacts are the ones being subjected to mandatory quarantine while waiting for the result of their tests.
On the other hand, PNP personnel who are wearing both face masks and face shields and observed physical distancing during the time of close contact are classified as low-risk and are still required to report for duty provided that they strictly observe the minimum health safety standard protocol.
Recently and as approved by our Chief PNP who is now back on duty after he was cleared by our medical personnel, I ordered all police commanders and unit heads to conduct surprise inspection in their respective offices to ensure that our policy of wearing face mask and face shield and observance of physical distancing are observed at all times as part of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus among our personnel.
To say therefore that we are lax in the implementation of anti-COVID measures reflects lack of awareness of what we have been doing since last year. And to allege or to insinuate that we are not taking care of our personnel is grossly unfair and an insult to our medical personnel and healthcare workers who have been on the frontline and rendering overtime duties since day one.
We are also overwhelmed by the upsurge of COVID-19 cases and another part of the measure is to look for more isolation and treatment facilities aside from our regular and additional facilities. Currently, we have a total of 1,951 active cases in the PNP, including the recent additional 316 cases which were reported on March 26.
On behalf of our Chief PNP, Police General Sinas, we assure our personnel of our immediate and all-out medical support system for those who would unfortunately contract the coronavirus. Rest assured that we are doing everything to provide the immediate needs, which include additional quarantine and isolation facilities. But I would like to reiterate our existing protocol to strictly observe minimum health safety protocol and other policies that we recently implemented to protect the PNP from infection.
–POLICE LTGEN GUILLERMO LORENZO T ELEAZAR
The Deputy Chief PNP for Administration/Commander, PNP-ASCOTF
