Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30) – Philippine National Police Chief PGen. Archie Gamboa announced on Thursday they will open four COVID-19 quarantine facilities inside Camp Crame today.
The announcement of the PNP Chief came as he also reported there are 96 confirmed COVID-19 cases among policemen, along with three deaths and 12 recoveries.
Gamboa said the four COVID-19 quarantine facilities inside Camp Crame have a capacity of 120 beds.
“These quarantine facilities here in Camp Crame are designed to complement the capacity of hospitals and medical institutions,” said Gamboa in his virtual presser.
The PNP Chief thanked the SM Foundation for their generosity in building the quarantine facilities.
Gamboa revealed they are developing their own COVID-19 testing center, to be established in the police’s existing DNA laboratory and the PNP General Hospital.
He also bared the PNP completed their first reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test laboratory. Four personnel from the PNP Health Service and Crime Laboratory offices are undergoing training to handle the laboratory.
“We are open to all possible means to mitigate the continued increase of COVID-19 cases among our law enforcers, who are the country’s last line of defense in maintaining order amidst our fight against contagion,” the PNP chief added.
The PNP COVID-19 testing center can handle 150-200 tests per day, Gamboa said.
Gamboa assured there are enough health officers among the police force and fair rotation of policemen in quarantine checkpoints, amid the rising cases of COVID-19 infected police personnel.
He added that 76 police officers, who were in the designated PNP quarantine area, have already completed their quarantine and yielded negative results for the virus.
