2 cops sent to Cebu from PRO-6 test positive for COVID-19

CEBU, Philippines —  Two policemen from Western Visayas who were among the augmentation forces deployed in Cebu amid the enhanced community quarantine here have tested positive for the coronavirus.

In all, 154 policemen assigned in Cebu have caught the virus.

Police Regional Office-7 Director Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro said that the two new additional cases are part of the 53 commissioned and non-commissioned police personnel from PRO-6 and PRO-8 who arrived in Cebu last June 20 to help secure the city amid the lockdowns.

“It’s sad to know that two of our augmentation from PRO-6 have (caught the virus), and we are taking care of them and we brought them to the isolation center,” said Ferro.

He added that these two personnel were both asymptomatic, just like most of the other infected cops.

Ferro said they were deployed in Cebu City to help in the monitoring of compliance to ECQ protocols.

Recoveries

The good news is that at least 52 cops out of those infected have recently recovered from virus.

“These recoveries have been donors of plasma, two of those that have been successfully infused with our recoveries’ blood have been, I think, in a very good (condition) and recovering very fast,” said Ferro.

Last Monday, the PRO-7 chief also announced that 12 cops, including non-uniformed personnel, who had tested positive for COVID-19, had also recovered and were ready to report back to work. They were housed in a recovery center.

About two week earlier, 20 cops were also released and immediately underwent stress debriefing. They were allowed to stay with their families for a week, after which, they were asked to go back to their jobs if be assessed to be fit to work.  JMD (FREEMAN)