PMMA assures safety of cadets amid COVID-19 outbreak

The 213 members of the Class 2024 of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy in San Narciso town, Zambales are formally recognized during a ceremony in April. Despite being confined in the academy, over 100 cadets here have contracted the coronavirus disease following an outbreak that was traced to the infection of a 21-year-old cadet on May 23. (Photo from the PMMA Facebook page)

SAN ANTONIO, Zambales —  The administration of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in San Narciso town assured families of its cadets or midshipmen that it was resolving the ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the academy.

In a public advisory on Sunday (May 30), the PMMA said it was dealing with concerns over the welfare of its cadets and employees, noting that infections had penetrated the academy despite its strict implementation of safety and health protocols.

Local health data showed that over 100 cadets and two employees at the academy were infected with COVID-19, the source of which was traced to a male cadet on May 23.

The infection had forced the PMMA to place the premises on a lockdown to prevent getting more infections.

It was the academy’s first outbreak of the virus since the pandemic began.

“We were partly successful during the past 10 months. COVID-19 positive cases were minimal and immediately contained…” the PMMA statement said.

It asked its stakeholders to “join hands and help one another surpass this yet another challenge. “