PNP chief Debold Sinas
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—Sixty-six Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan (Mimaropa) police personnel who were considered close contacts of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Debold Sinas, tested negative for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The test was done during the sixth day after Sinas’ command visit to ensure that the virus would be detected within days after exposure, said the Police Regional Office (PRO) in a statement early Saturday.
“The results of RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test conducted have been released and all are negative. Likewise, as of this date, not anyone from the identified close contacts experienced symptoms,” read the statement.
Sinas was on a command visit at the Regional Headquarters of the Police Regional Office 4B (Mimaropa) in Oriental Mindoro on March 11 when he learned that he tested positive for COVID-19.
Gen. Pascual Muñoz Jr., Mimaropa police chief, who was also among the close contacts, ordered immediate contact tracing among uniformed and civilian officers at the regional headquarters visited by Sinas from March 9 to 11.
The police officers said that the negative test results from Sinas’ close contacts “reflects the effective implementation” of health protocols by the PNP during the command visit.