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PNP records 99th COVID-19 fatality

August 20, 2021 Alfred P. Dalizon 771 views

ANOTHER one bites the dust.

This after the Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded its 99th COVID-19 fatality since March 2020 – a Police Lieutenant Colonel from Cebu City.

PNP chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar said the 99th COVID-19 death in the force is only 44 years old. A graduate of PNP Academy, the victim died last Wednesday due to acute respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19.

“On August 11, said patient experienced mild symptoms of COVID-9 and immediately underwent an RT-PCR test which yielded a positive result,” the top cop said. After battling the virus for almost one week, he was declared dead by his attending physician.

As of Friday, the PNP Health Service (HS) headed by Brigadier Gen. Luisito P. Magnaye also recorded 179 recoveries among the infected personnel bringing the total recoveries to 31,178 while 123 new cases were noted bringing the total cases to 33,034 with 1,757 ‘active cases.’

Further, there are now 86,843 or 39.09 percent of the force who are already fully vaccinated while 101,304 or 45.60 percent are just awaiting their 2nd dose to complete the inoculation.

With this, there are only 34,022 or 15.31 percent of the total PNP strength who are yet to be vaccinated.

Eleazar earlier assured full support and assistance to the newborn baby of a 31-year-old policewoman from Banga, South Cotabato who died of COVID-19 three days after safely delivering her child last August 10.

“Sinisiguro ko na maghahatid tayo ng tulong sa kanyang mga naulila. Higit sa lahat, hindi natin pababayaan ang bagong silang na sanggol ng ating policewoman na nagbigay ng tapat na serbisyo sa bayan,” the top cop said.

According to the PNP chief, the still young pregnant policewoman was found positive for the virus after undergoing an antigen test last August 5. However, while still waiting for the result of her RT-PCR test, doctors decided to perform a delicate caesarian section on her to save her baby.

After safely delivering her baby, the policewoman was transferred to another hospital after she exhibited COVID-19 symptoms. She died before the result of her test which yielded a positive result came out.

Eleazar expressed the entire PNP organization’s sympathy to the deceased police officers and men.

The PNP chief also ordered all his field commanders to make arrangements so that pregnant personnel are able to work from home and are not exposed to possible COVID-19 infection.

“Lubhang delikado para sa kanila ang ma-deploy at ma-expose sa COVID-19. Dapat unahin natin ang kanilang kaligtasan at kalusugan pati ng batang kanilang dinadala,” he pointed out.

Pregnancy is among COVID-19 risk factors, along with age, underlying medical conditions and a compromised immune system. Pregnancy makes women more susceptible to coronavirus infection and other viral respiratory illnesses.

Since last August 1, there have been a total of 19 police personnel who have died after contracting the COVID-19.

Most of the fatalities over the past two weeks alone are yet to be given anti-COVID, anti-flu or anti-pneumonia vaccines and were found to be suffering from different comorbidities.

Last month, there were only 80 COVID-19 deaths in the PNP since March last year. However, since last August 1, there were an additional 19 new deaths, four of them Police Commissioned Officers and the 15 all Police Non-Commissioned Officers.

The officers who died after contracting the virus include two Lieutenant Colonels, a Police Captain and a Police Lieutenant

Of the 99 fatalities, six are from the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame; seven from different PNP National Operational Support Units; 22 from different National Operational Support Units; and 65 from the different Police Regional Offices (PRO).

The National Capital Region Police Office recorded the biggest number of fatalities with 20 followed by eight from PRO7 in Central Visayas; six from the PRO4-A in Calabarzon region; four each from PRO3 in Central Luzon, PRO6 in Western Visayas, PRO12 in Central Mindanao and PRO9 in Western Mindanao; and three each from PRO10 in Northern Mindanao, PRO11 in Southern Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Administrative Region.

Eleazar has called on his men to be extra cautious as they continue their anti-criminality campaign while strictly enforcing IATF health protocols in NCR Plus and the rest of the country to help reduce the further spread of the COVID-19 especially its more dangerous Delta variant.

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