PNP isolating Sinas’ close contacts

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police yesterday started isolating police officers and civilian employees who had close contact with PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas, who tested positive for COVID-19.

PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has directed the Health Service to immediately identify and subject to a health assessment their personnel who got near Sinas during his visit.

“All our personnel who made close contact with him must be checked as a matter of protocol and for their health safety and the safety of their family,” Eleazar said in a statement.

Eleazar was designated officer-in-charge of the police force while Sinas recuperates from the virus.

Sinas on Thursday had himself quarantined at an isolation facility at Camp Crame shortly after he received his test results, which showed he is positive for COVID-19.

The aggressive contact tracing covers all of Sinas’ activities from March 9 to 11. Among these were his visit to the Mimaropa police headquarters in Calapa City in Oriental Mindoro Thursday morning, hours before he was informed of his test result.

His two other recent tests on March 3 and 9 had negative results.

He also held an impromptu press conference with journalists covering the PNP after a ceremonial turnover of a Ford truck donated by the United States embassy.

“We expect those who made close contact to strictly observe the healthy safety protocol such as physical distancing and wearing of face masks and face shields because these measures are proven to be effective in preventing the spread of the virus,” Eleazar said.

He said Sinas remains in high spirits and is doing well “and I am in constant communication with him for consultation especially on matters that require his attention and guidance.”

It has been Sinas’ policy to undergo swab tests before his official functions such as command visits and his regular press conference every Monday with journalists covering the PNP.

At least 1,419 PNP health care frontliners were already inoculated with the vaccines developed by Sinovac Biotech of China, including 220 in the provinces.