16 cops test positive for COVID-19

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Sixteen personnel assigned to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) headquarters were found positive for COVID-19.

Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, said that the 16 personnel are all assigned to the Regional Operations Division (ROD).

ROD personnel underwent reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on April 29, 2021 after two personnel contracted COVID-19.

Initial results released on April 30 showed that 14 more personnel have contracted the virus.

Malong said they are still waiting for the result of 17 more personnel.

The two personnel who were earlier found positive were already transferred to isolation facilities, in coordination with the LGU.

The other 14 are now isolated here in PRO-6 while waiting to be transferred to quarantine facilities.

Malong said that contract tracing is being done among personnel who were found to be in close contact with COVID-19 cases.

In the meantime, PRO-6 will implement skeleton/skeletal duty scheme to minimize number of personnel reporting to the regional headquarters.

But Malong said that those who will not be reporting physically in the offices will still render duty under the ‘work from home’ arrangement.

The ROD will also be augmented so that the day to day functions of the said office will not be hampered considering that they are the “nerve center” of all PRO-6 operations.

Stricter health protocols will be implemented inside the camp.

Officers providing services for civilians will continue their daily operations but will limit the number of clienteles to be entertained at one given time based on the protocols.

Presently, PRO-6 has recorded 106 active cases (16 new cases of ROD included); 303 recoveries; and one death since the pandemic started.