PNP Health Service to work with DOH to guard on coronavirus entry

January 22, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Health Service is ready to help the Department of Health to monitor if the coronavirus has entered the country. 

“They (Health Service) have been given instructions to ensure the availability of PNP personnel to assist the DOH in containing possible public health hazards posed by this virus,” said Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac in a statement on Wednesday.

Banac said PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa has ordered the Police Brigadier General John Luglug, director of the PNP Health Service to coordinate with the DOH as it probes whether the virus that made a five-year child who went to Boracay last January 12 sick is due to the coronavirus.  

“All Regional Directors of Police Regional Offices have been ordered to coordinate with their respective counterpart Regional Health Offices to help mitigate the possible effects and assist in case order is given to locate other persons identified by DOH who possibly manifest flu-like symptoms and fit the description of the new virus,” he said.

The PNP assured the public they remain alert to ensure public order and safety even as they continue relief operations and enforce a total lock down in the permanent danger zone around Taal Volcano to keep evacuees safe. Ella Dionisio/DMS