78 frontliner cops test negative for COVID-19

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) remains free of the SARS-CoV-2 as 78 frontliner police officers tested negative for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, said the result of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for SARS-CoV-2 was officially released by the Western Visayas Medical Center on May 27 or 12 days after they underwent swab test.

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19.

The 78 cops were on top of the 325 police officers initially tested in different city and provincial offices.

 

“I am happy with the result of the initial test that none of my personnel tested positive,” Pamuspusan said, even as he assured that more tests will be done to ensure the safety of PRO-6 personnel.

 

Pamuspusan said that tests will ascertain that their personnel are ready to work under the “new normal.”

 

He also directed the finance officer to purchase testing kits for more personnel who will undergo PCR Test for COVID-19.

Earlier, Pamuspusan stressed the need for frontliner-cops to be tested “to ensure that all my personnel and their family are safe from COVID-19, as we continuously discharge our mandated function of manning the Quarantine Control Points 24/7.”

Of the 78 Personnel, 26 are assigned to the Headquarters Service, 22 to the Regional Health Service, and 30 to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).

Pamuspusan said they gave priority to personnel at Quarantine Control Points (QCPs) and checkpoints.

The test on 78 cops was the first swab test conducted at the PRO-6 headquarters in Camp Delgado.

Pamuspusan has ordered Police Colonel Maria Chona Wamilda, RHS-6 Chief, to conduct training on the proper procedures in the execution of swabbing test.

Subsequently, the 78 personnel were made to undergo mandatory testing.

 

“The test is for the benefit of our people and to those we serve. If we have healthy personnel, they could perform their job well,” Pamuspusan said.

 

The RHS-6, in coordination with Iloilo City Health Unit headed by Annabelle Rosario S. Blancaflor, initiated the training on swabbing test participated in by 22 Medical Reserve Force held at the Camp Delgado multi-purpose hall.

It was gathered that in the Administrative Support to CoVid-19 Operation Task Force of PRO-6, RHS-6 was designated as a Sub-task Group Health Management.

They are tasked in updating the status of PRO-6 personnel who were considered as suspect, probable and positive to Covid-19, as well as monitoring their disposition after quarantine or treatment. (PRO-6 photo)