PNPA to test 350 cadets, 20 training staff for COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Around 350 cadets and 20 training staff of the Philippine National Police Academy will undergo reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for the coronavirus disease 2019, PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said on Monday.

“Three hundred fifty plus the training staff, probably 20 of them, all of them will undergo RT-PCR,” Gamboa said in a press conference at Camp Crame.

PNP leaders are also set to have a meeting with officials of the PNPA and the National Police Training Institute this Monday to discuss and review health protocols as well as the recruitment cycles in both institutions.

Gamboa said he is not discounting the possibility that there could be infection to coronavirus in training camps since the trainees stay in the same barracks.

“We also have to revisit also the PPEs, at least basic PPEs, masks, that are being issued to, especially ‘yung sa trainings,” he added.

(We also have to revisit the PPEs being issued in trainings. Trainees often sweat so the possibility of infection is high.)

Two cadets died at PNPA last week. They are Cadet 4th Class Kenneth Ross Alvarado who died on Wednesday due to heat stroke, and Cadet Fourth Class Jiary Jasen Papa who died on Friday due to electrolyte imbalance or hypokalemia.

The PNP earlier ordered the suspension of all activities for new cadets of the academy following these deaths.

JE