Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) formally opened on Tuesday its own COVID-19 testing facility in Camp Crame, Quezon City as infections within its ranks continue to rise.
PNP Chief PGen. Archie Gamboa attended the blessing of the PNP’s first laboratory that can conduct at least 150 Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction tests daily. The RT-PCR test is considered the “gold standard” for detecting the novel coronavirus, according to the Department of Health.
“We see it clearly, there is a need to have our own testing center as you can see that there are increasing trend of COVID-19 cases among our police frontliners every day,” said Gamboa in a statement.
The PNP added that 13 of its personnel will man the DOH-accredited facility, seven of whom are from the CrimeLab while six are from the PNP Health Service.
As of Tuesday, the number of cases among police officers rose to 281 after four more contracted the viral illness. Meanwhile, 117 from the force recovered while over 1, 300 others are considered probable and suspected cases.
On May 13, the Eastern Police District main headquarters in Pasig City was also placed on lockdown after at least 24 officers caught the coronavirus.
The PNP said it will also set up a mobile swabbing hub in the National Capital Region Police Office Headquarters in Taguig City.
