THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday recorded its 65th COVID-19 fatality: a 41-year old member of the National Capital Region Police Office with known comorbidities.

The Police Non-Commissioned Officer assigned with the Southern Police District passed away 3 a.m. Thursday at the Ospital ng Makati where he has been confined since last May 11.

The PNP Health Service said that the fatality is known to be suffering from diabetes and asthma and is an asymptomatic who tested positive for the virus last May 5 when he was subjected to an RT-PCR test.

The fatality was taken to a quarantine facility after complaining of cough and asthma attack. An initial medical diagnosis showed he has a COVID confirmed pneumonia and severe bronchial asthma and was given medication.

However, he was transferred to the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit when his condition worsened and was hooked to a mechanical ventilator.

On Tuesday, the PNP recorded its 64th COVID-19 fatality: a 44-year old non-commissioned officer from Zamboanga Sibugay who died on Monday while still waiting to get the jab.

PNP chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar condoled with the family of the latest COVID-19 victims in the police force and vowed all adequate support to them.

The 64th COVID-19 fatality tested positive for the virus last May 7 and was brought to a local hospital where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit due to difficulty of breathing.

On Monday, the policeman was pronounced dead by his attending physician due to respiratory failure, said the PNP chief.

“Ako po ay personal na nakikiramay sa pamilya ng ating pulis na pumanaw dahil sa Covid-19. Kami ay nakikipagugnayan na sa pamilya ng pulis upang maipaabot ang anumang tulong na kailangan” Gen. Eleazar expressed.

“Patuloy ang ating pagmomonitor sa ating mga kasamahan na tinamaan ng virus at pagaabot ng tulong sa kanilang pamilya, bilang frontliners dobleng pag-iingat ang ating payo sa mga pulis na nasa labas at nagpapatrolya,” he added.

As of Thursday, the PNP-HS headed by Brigadier Gen. Luisito P. Magnaye has recorded the presence of another 233 PNP personnel who tested positive for the virus bringing to 23,376 the number of police officers and men have contracted the killer germ since March last year.

The PNP-HS however said it also logged 70 recoveries to bring to 21,587 the number of police personnel who have fully recovered from the disease and are now back in full duty status.

PNP doctors and nurses are also monitoring a total of 1,725 ‘active cases’ in the force as of press time, Gen. Eleazar said.