232 cadets, 11 personnel of PNPA test positive for COVID-19
PNPA director Maj. Gen. Gilberto Cruz distributes donated face masks to cadets and personnel of the academy. Photo from PNPA
MANILA, Philippines — A total of 232 cadets and 11 personnel of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) have contracted the coronavirus disease 2019.
PNPA director Maj. Gen. Gilberto Cruz said in a statement Monday that health frontliners are strictly monitoring the health status of the cadets and personnel infected with coronavirus in areas where they are undergoing quarantine.
According to Cruz, the PNPA has established five isolation facilities — with complete amenities, food, and medical supplies — that serve as quarantine rooms for the cadets and personnel who have the disease.
The patients are all asymptomatic, Lt. Col. Byron Allatog, PNPA spokesperson, said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net.
Allatog said the positive test results were from the 1,406 samples for reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction tests earlier collected from the cadets and personnel.
Cruz assured that appropriate measures were immediately implemented to protect the Cadet Corps from the further spread of COVID-19 a week after he assumed the post as academy director. Cruz was among the police officials included in the top-level revamp of PNP officials ordered by their chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan a day after he assumed the highest police post.
Cruz said a total of 16,000 face masks, 1,100 carry-on canisters, and alcohol were distributed to each cadet as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19 within PNPA.
The cadets also received 11,000 capsules of Vitamin C for their 14-day quarantine. Another 10,000 face masks and 1,000 face shields were also donated by the Public Safety Alliance for Transformation and Rule of Law party-list for the cadets.
Laboratory gowns, 15 thermal scanners, two oxygen tanks, and medicines were donated to PNPA by other stakeholders, said Cruz.
“We assure the families and loved ones of the cadets that they are in good hands and their wellness will always be our paramount consideration. We also thank our generous donors for the countless blessings that were shared, words cannot express our appreciation,” he added.
The PNPA was placed on lockdown from September 3 to 18 after some cadets were confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19.
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