PNP Health Service preparing measures to helps infected by coronavirus

January 27, 2020

The Philippine National Police ( PNP) on Monday said its Health Service is preparing  measures once a police personnel will be affected by the 2019-Novel Coronavirus (nCoV).

“The PNP Health Services are now creating their plan if ever one of our personnel will be found positive from this new virus,” Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said in a press briefing.

“Although local health authorities are yet to declare a national health emergency, the PNP is taking preparatory measures to capacitate itself to perform public safety functions in support of public health initiatives of government to address the threat,” he said.

Banac said the affected cops will be brought to Camp Crame to be checked and isolated.

“It is very important to contain the virus,” he said.

He said the Health Service is coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) to provide adequate protection to PNP personnel who are vulnerable to be exposed to infection.

No police personnel have been infected by the virus despite possible cases of 2019-nCoV in Boracay and Palawan where tourist police are deployed.

He added aviation police are following precautionary measures in the airport.

Banac said PNP units with Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High Yield Explosives (CBRNE) capability, particularly the Special Action Force (SAF), Crime Lab and Health Service are the frontline troops that will perform police public safety functions.

“The PNP’s own experience with the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and Merscov (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) emergencies in 2003 and 2015 provided us with better knowledge, technology and skills in handling similar public health emergencies,” he said.

“Because a vast body of water separates us from the infected countries in mainland Asia, our best hope is to strengthen our country’s defences to detect, screen and isolate potential carriers entering our ports,” he added.

He reminded the public to report to any government health service if they noticed any symptoms of the coronavirus. Ella Dionisio/DMS