Close contacts of infected cops undergo testing

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

Hundreds of individuals who may have been exposed to two police officers who tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) underwent testing at the covered gym of Mandurriao, Iloilo City Wednesday.

Annabelle Rosario Blancaflor, head of the Iloilo City COVID Extraction Team, said the mass testing conducted by the Iloilo City government prioritized 370 Philippine National Police (PNP) officers, social workers, market vendors, and tricycle and pedicab drivers who usually stay around Mandurriao Plaza.

“Ang aton priority amo ang mga PNP personnel, social workers nga nag-meeting with the PNP personnel for the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), market vendors, tricycle drivers, and trisikad drivers diri sa vicinity sa plaza sang Mandurriao,” Blancaflor said in a press conference on Wednesday.

The 370 individuals, who were identified as close contacts of the two COVID-19 positive police officers, were subjected to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, which is considered the gold standard in detecting SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes the disease.

The Department of Health-Center for Health Development Western Visayas (DOH-CHD 6) confirmed on Tuesday that two police officers assigned to Iloilo City were infected with COVID-19.

In its Case Bulletin No. 82, the health department identified the police officers as a 32-year-old male from La Paz, Iloilo City (WV Patient No. 149) and a 22-year-old male from Lambunao, Iloilo province (WV Patient No. 151).

WV Patient No. 149 was assigned to Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao district since April 16.

WV Patient No. 151 was assigned as patroller of the Mandurriao Public Market. He reported for duty at the Westown Hotel also in Mandurriao on June 6.

Dr. Marie Jocelyn Te, medical coordinator for emerging and reemerging infectious diseases of DOH-CHD 6, said on Tuesday that the two police officers are local transmission cases.

But in a press conference on Wednesday, the DOH-CHD 6 said local transmission has yet to be confirmed as they are still tracing the source of the infection.

“Gina-come out pa sang aton local government unit ang source of infection sang aton duha ka personnel wala pa sila katapos sang contact tracing. As of this time, we cannot say nga this is a case of local transmission considering na frontliners ni sila and then very mobile sila. Ongoing pa ang investigation,” according to Dr. Sophia Pulmones, head of DOH-CHD 6’s Local Health Support Division.

Meanwhile, the health department reiterated that individuals who underwent testing should subject themselves to either home quarantine or facility quarantine.

According to Pulmones, individuals who were tested should be isolated while waiting for the results.

“For those who have the means to undergo home quarantine may do so but they should follow strict quarantine by dedicating one room and use separate protocols,” she said.

Pulmones said it is the responsibility of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) to monitor individuals in home quarantine and check if they exhibit signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

Individuals who cannot subject themselves to home quarantine may opt for facility quarantine in the temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMF) of their respective local government units.

“Each TTMFs should have assigned medical personnel particularly nurses, physicians, and midwives who will be responsible in monitoring the patients,” she said.