LGUs seek police protocols after PUIs defied nCoV health measures

Metro Manila governments are requesting the police for protocols in handling persons under investigation (PUIs) for possible novel coronavirus infection but refuse to undergo health measures.

In a House committee hearing on Wednesday, Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (MMDRRMC) Mike Salalima said the 17 local governments units in the National Capital Region want to clear up the mater.

“May cases po kasi na ni-report sa council, ayaw ho pumunta or nandoon na sa hospital, nagwawala pa ho. ‘Yun po ‘yung protocols na aming nililinaw,” he said.

The MMDRRMC made the request for protocols from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

“We also requested NCRPO [guidelines on] how to go about their memorandum in as far as assisting our DRRMs and Department of Health sa pagkuha ng mga, let’s say, matitigas na ulo na PUIs,” Salalima said.

On Wednesday, the Philippine National Police, through its Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), extended its enforcement for the contact tracing of the plane passengers who traveled with the nCoV-infected Chinese couple.

The number of confirmed deaths from China's coronavirus outbreak rose to at least 490, after authorities in ground-zero Hubei province reported 65 new fatalities on Wednesday.

In the Philippines, the Department of Health is monitoring a possible third confirmed case of nCoV infection with 105 PUIs for suspected infection, as of Tuesday. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News