LIGAO CITY — Almost 100 policemen based in the Albay police provincial office are ready to deal and interact with people infected with COVID-19, just in case it spreads in the province.
Colonel Wilson Asueta, Albay police chief, said that “the members of Police Provincial Office quick reaction force will initially be deployed to all police stations to assist local concerns regarding COVID-19.”
He said all Philippine National Police units in Albay were directed to conduct checkpoints and other preventive operational activities to prevent the transmission of the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, in close coordination with local government units.
“In the performance of duties, personnel were also directed to ensure precautionary measures such as wearing of mask, gloves, proper distance and others,” Asueta said.
The police personnel, mostly registered nurses themselves, underwent training on the COVID-19 sequence, particularly on how to use personal protective equipment, sanitation, and other medical concerns.
The activity was sponsored by Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital Health Emergency Management Staff.
The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a pandemic since it has infected more than 150,000 people and killed nearly 6,000 all over the world. The Philippines has so far confirmed 140 people with COVID-19, including 11 deaths.
People who have COVID-19 could recover since for most people, its symptoms were mild like fever and cough. But the illness could also be worse or serious for others such as pneumonia, especially for older adults and those with existing health problems.
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, which outbreak started in China’s Wuhan City in Hube province in late 2019.
President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of public health emergency throughout the country and placed the entire Metro Manila under “community quarantine” from March 15 to April 14, 2020, due to COVID-19.