Senior military official, wife test positive for COVID-19 – AFP

A senior military official and his wife tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday.

According to AFP chief General Felimon Santos Jr., the senior military official and his wife were confined at the V. Luna Medical Center in Quezon City.

The military official had a history of foreign travel. He and his wife are admitted at V. Luna as persons under investigation (PUIs) on March 15.

"They have been undergoing proper medical management with the military officer now being asymptomatic," Santos said in a statement.

"They will continue medical treatment until fully recovered and strictly following DOH (Department of Health) imposed protocol for COVID-19 patients," he added.

Measures vs COVID-19

Meanwhile, the AFP emphasized that measures to protect all its personnel from infection, particularly those who were still working inside Camp Aguinaldo, had been implemented.

Only two gates were opened in Camp Aguinaldo since the community quarantine in Metro Manila started last March 15.

"Additional thermal scanners and qualified personnel were likewise made available to hasten the process of taking temperature," Santos said.

Several offices inside Camp Aguinaldo also ceased operations. These include the Commissioned Officers' Club, the Camp Aguinaldo Golf Course, and the AFP Finance Center.

However, food stalls at the Soldier's Mall remained operational.

The AFP chief also said the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel has issued guidelines for work from home measures for civilian human resources while military personnel must remain inside the camp to ensure that other security operations are unaffected.

Santos also ordered the availability of a military treatment facility within the camp to cater specifically to AFP personnel manifesting symptoms of COVID-19.

"House to house reminders from GHQ-HSC and the station hospital are also being conducted for residents within the camp, encouraging them to practice personal hygiene and other related actions to prevent the spread of the COVID-19," Santos said. — DVM, GMA News