206 PRO-6 headquarters personnel undergo swab test

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

More than 200 personnel of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 in Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City underwent swab testing after three officers were earlier confirmed to be COVID-19 positive.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, said swab testing was done on 98 personnel – uniformed and non-uniformed – on August 18.

The Iloilo City Health Office administered the test.

“These 98 personnel are those who are assigned with the offices of those who were found positive in the previous tests and those personnel assigned at the regional headquarters that have come in close contact with them based on the contact tracing conducted by the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division,” Malong said.

On Tuesday, PRO-6 announced that one of those who tested positive is a non-uniformed personnel (NUP) from Pavia, Iloilo assigned at the Office of the Regional Director.

Because of this, Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas regional director, is now on self-quarantine.

The second one is a police non-commissioned officer (PNCO) from Banate town with the rank of Police Staff Sergeant and assigned with the Regional Police Community Affairs Development Division while the third is a Police Commissioned Officer with the rank of Police Captain from Iloilo City assigned with the Regional Comptrollership Division.

On Wednesday, Malong said the Regional Personnel and Records Management Division identified 108 personnel of the regional headquarters to undergo COVID-19 testing.

The Iloilo City Health Office conducted the swab extraction at the PRO-6 multi-purpose hall.

The result of the RT-PCR tests is expected to be released 3 to 4 days after it was conducted, Malong added.

PRO-6 will be conducting more tests to accommodate all personnel assigned at the regional headquarters.

Disinfection and other health protocols will also be strictly implemented inside the camp.

Pamuspusan has reiterated to all personnel to adhere to the health protocols being implemented to ensure their personal safety and of their families.

 

Health management protocols

On Tuesday, PRO-6 announced that 19 of its personnel all over the region were COVID-19 positive.

Nine have already recovered while 10 are considered as active cases.

Due to the rising incidents of Covid-19 among policemen, the PNP Regional Health Service – 6 has recommended that personal visits to PNP personnel at office/units or quartering units are temporarily restricted.

The RHS-6 also advised the postponement of unnecessary travel and mass gathering.

For clients with official functions, minimum health standards must be observed. These include wearing of face mask, physical distancing of at least 3 – 6 feet; meticulous hand hygiene; foot bath; and thermal scanning.

There are also restrictions on mass gathering. The recommended number is between 20-25 persons with participants observing a distance of at least “two arms’ length” from each other.

Decontamination procedures must be down twice every 24 hours.

The camp will also ban entry of personnel/client with flu-like symptoms.

A triage area will be established before any scheduled and approved gathering/activity.