8 more Argao inmates get COVID-19

CEBU, Philippines —  Eight more Persons Under Police Custody (PUPC) from the Argao Police Station in southern Cebu have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of infected detainees to 17.

Police Major Jeremie Shiella Gurtiza, the station chief, said they are now isolated from other PUPC.

Their symptoms include low-grade fever, and loss of smell and taste, she added.

The station houses 24 detainees.

Nine of them have first contracted the virus. They were swab for COVID-19 on February 18 and the results came out positive on February 21.

Gurtiza admitted that the detainees were all placed in one cell that resulted in the fast transmission of the virus among them.

“It’s already contaminated. All of them are sharing one comfort room,” she said.

She said they were supposed to be transferred to an old hospital while waiting for the results of the COVID tests.

She, however, said the isolation facility was deemed not “fit and safe” for PUPC with big cases, such as rape, murder and drugs.

The windows of the hospital are said to be made of plywood and clear-glass jalousie. The beds are foldable and made of metals that could be used to break the windows.

“They might escape. And we can’t station our personnel at the hospital to guard the detainees as it will cripple our operations,” she said.

All of the infected detainees are being monitored by the police’s Regional Health Unit.

“If their conditions worsen, they would be placed under hospital arrest,” said Gurtiza.

Aside from the detainees, one non-uniformed employee who was in close contact with PUPC is now also in isolation.

To avoid further transmission of the virus among detainees and station personnel, Gurtiza said new arrests are booked at the neighboring police station in Alcoy town.

She said police functions and services remain unhampered despite the situation. Among the services are issuances of police clearance, reports and travel authority.

“We have set up a temporary workstation outside, 30 meters from the station, to cater to the public,” she said.

The station has 26 police officers who were divided into two teams per shift to “balance” police functions. — KQD (FREEMAN)