PNP opens emergency quarantine facility

April 30, 2020

The Philippine National Police on Thursday opened its Emergency Quarantine Facility (EQF) to help their police personnel as the number of their confirmed infected of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) rise to 96.

According to Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa, PNP chief, the facility can accommodate 120 police personnel who are in the frontlines as the country is addressing the pandemic crisis.

The blessing and turnover ceremony was conducted at the PNP Transformation Oval in Camp Crame.

“We would like to thank SM Foundation President Mr. Hans Sy Jr. and WTA Architecture and Designs as we formally unveil today our four mega Emergency Quarantine Facilities here in Camp Crame to complement the capacity of hospitals and medical institutions,” Gamboa said.

After 10-day of construction and completion, among amenities of the newly-established quarantine facility are fully air-conditioned rooms with complete features, nurse station, shower and bath, handwash area.

In his virtual presser, Gamboa said they will continue to  further expand the capability of the PNP for supportive healthcare system for police frontliners on duty and personnel who have been infected.

“We are open to all possible means to mitigate the continued increase of COVID cases among our law enforcers who are the country’s last line of defense in maintaining order amidst our fight against this contagion,” Gamboa said.

Earlier, the PNP assumed management and operations of the 294-bed quarantine facility at the PICC, while its making final preparations to operate and manage another quarantine facility at the PhilSports Complex that can accommodate 156 patients with mild to moderate cases.

Gamboa said they are also looking forward in developing their own COVID-19 testing center in their existing DNA laboratory and at the PNP General Hospital as they completed their first RT-PCR Testing Laboratory.

“And at least four personnel from PNP Health Service and Crime Laboratory are now undergoing training that will be in-charge to handle it,” he said.

The testing center can handle and process 150 to 200 tests per day.

Gamboa assured the public they have enough force for their facility and in helping other government COVID-19 facilities.

“We have already planned this and our rotation is good, taking consideration that (the police) are resting and at the same time we now have a quarantine (facility) for our police personnel,” he said.

Meanwhile, according to the record of PNP- Health Service, three more police personnel were infected with the virus.

The three confirmed cases were a 33-year-old female from Laguna; a 28-year-old male officer from Bohol; and a 30-year-old officer from Makati City.

Further, they recorded a total of 215 PNP personnel who are Probable Persons Under Investigation (Probable PUIs) while a total 357 personnel were recommended as Suspected Persons Under Investigation (Suspected PUIs).

A total of 1,020 personnel which includes 343 Probable PUIs, 675 Suspected PUIs, and two confirmed patients have completed self or home quarantine.

As to the NHQ PNP COVID-19 Patient Care Center or Kiangan Billeting Center, they dmitted 28 PNP personnel listed as PUIs and who undergo self-quarantine including eight police commissioned officer (PCO), 18 Police Non-Commission Officer (PNCO), and two non-uniform personnel (NUP).

The Spring Hotel admitted a total of 107 personnel including 15 PCO, 73 PNCO, 14 NUP and five civilian employees together with other five personnel quarantined at the Taekwondo Quarantine-10 facility. Ella Dionisio/DMS