A 49-YEAR-OLD female police personnel has succumbed to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), increasing the death toll in the Philippine National Police (PNP) to 12.

The latest fatality was from the PNP finance service. She died on August 4.

As of August 8, there were 2,459 policemen who tested positive for the virus that causes Covid-19. More than half, or 1,494, have recovered.

The PNP Health Service is also monitoring 2,584 suspected and 875 probable cases of Covid-19 among police personnel.

To improve the National Capital Region Police Office’s (NCRPO) Covid-19 preparedness and response plan, NCRPO Director Debold Sinas led a dialogue on Saturday, August 8, with doctors.

Among the topics discussed were the safety measures during the conduct of quarantine control points, social distancing patrol and dealing with community quarantine violators.

Sinas said medical specialists recommended some strategies to curb the spread of Sars-CoV-2 in the National Capital Region, as follows:

• Removal of disinfectant/decontamination tent;
• Improvement of contact tracing through information technology;
• No need for thermal scanner at quarantine control points;
• High-risk PNP personnel, vulnerable and poor people be prioritized in swab testing;
• Quarantine violators will be made to render community service such as cleaning and planting;
• Regular vaccination against flu and pneumonia; and
• Daily checklist and health declaration to be monitored by a Covid manager per police station