Camp Karingal placed on lockdown after 13 personnel, 1 soldier test positive for COVID-19

Camp Karingal, the headquarters of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), is on a three-day lockdown as some personnel have tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019.

According to a report on GMA News' Unang Balita on Monday, the lockdown began on Saturday. It will end on May 12, Tuesday.

This was done as a total of 14 security forces, which include 13 QCPD personnel and one soldier from the Joint Task Force - National Capital Region, have tested positive for COVID-19.

The report said those who have tested positive for the disease have been already isolated.

Authorities also started contact tracing to determine who had direct contact with the infected personnel. 

The QCPD is still waiting for the COVID-19 test results of 104 out of the 219 personnel tested, according to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

The target group testing was conducted from April 25 to 29, the NCRPO said.

The NCRPO stated that the lockdown was implemented to facilitate the following measures:

• Conduct an intensive contact tracing of those who were in close contact with the 13 positives patients who were already placed in the NCRPO Special Care Facility;
• Conduct evaluation and monitoring of those who were in direct contact with the positive patients and to have them isolated in the SCF;
• Make an assessment about the status of the 104 personnel who underwent nasopharyngeal swab test pending their result and to determine whether they should be placed under quarantine;
• Determine and assess those who will be recommended and prioritized to undergo nasopharyngeal swab test;
• Immediately decontaminate the whole facility of Camp Karingal QCPD; and
• Implement measures to prevent the further spread of COVID19 virus to other personnel.

For the meantime, QCPD chief Police Brigadier General Ronnie Montejo is holding office at the Kamuning Police Station 10, according to the NCRPO. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News