COVID-19 cases among PCG frontliners surpass 800

August 17, 2020

Confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) frontline personnel surpassed 800, a PCG spokesman said on Monday.

Commodore Armando Balilo said 708 of the 859 confirmed cases have recovered.

"We have one officer  under observation in a hospital. No other serious case and fatality (recorded). God is good!," he said.

Balilo said with the 131 new recoveries, the number of active  cases is down to 151.

"The affected personnel are immediately pulled out from their stations and provided with medical assistance and other resource support," he said

"The health condition of PCG frontline personnel are regularly monitored through various efforts such as swab testing amid the COVID-19 pandemic," Balilo said.

Balilo said these measures are on top of the sufficient provision of vitamins, PPE sets, and medical supplies; implementation of strategic deployment to ensure that frontline personnel have rest periods and work breaks; and the preparation of nutrition-packed meals to boost their immune system.

Balilo said the PCH is using UV lights to augment the manual disinfection of work stations and billeting areas utilized by their frontline personnel.

"On September 2020, the Command will finally open its very own quarantine facility that can accommodate up to 224 frontline personnel at one time," he said.

This facility will allow the PCG Medical Service to better manage the active COVID-19 cases within the organization for their speed recovery and rehabilitation, Balilo added. Robina Asido/DMS