PNP vows continued services amid rise of COVID-19 cases among staff

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Dionardo Carlos on Monday said that the police's performance of duty will not be hampered despite the increasing number of COVID-19 infections in the force.

“We have our deployment strategy that in case a member of the police unit will be isolated, those who are not in contact with him or her will take over,” Carlos said in a statement.

The PNP stressed that work would also push through for those who are asymptomatic and could still manage to do their functions while at home or inside a quarantine facility.

The PNP on Monday recorded 436 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total caseload to  43,603. There include 1,884 active cases, while 41,594 PNP personnel have recovered and 125 died from the disease.

“Thankfully, many of the [COVID-19] cases among our police personnel developed mild symptoms which will only need home or facility isolation,” Carlos said.

The Chief PNP also said that there is regular swab testing among the PNP personnel to determine who were infected with the virus.

On January 4, Carlos confirmed that he himself tested positive for COVID-19.

He reminded his staff to maintain a healthy body and a sound mind for them to function well as frontliners amid the pandemic.

The Philippines on Monday again registered an all-time high new COVID-19 infections with 33,169, raising the Philippines' total caseload to 2,998,530. — Giselle Ombay/BM, GMA News