GENERAL SANTOS CITY - Police authorities here have undertaken stringent health protocols at the premises of various police stations here after six detainees from Police Station 6 tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Col. Gilberto Tuzon, city police director, said he ordered the creation of a health unit for each of the eight police stations around the city to ensure that appropriate health protocols are implemented to contain the spread of the virus among police personnel and inmates detained at the police stations.
He said the five-man health unit team will be led by a police official who has a medical background.
He said the team will be tasked to monitor the strict implementation of health protocols at the premises of police stations including the wearing of face masks and face shields and temperature scanning of people entering the police stations.
Tuzon said the team will closely coordinate with local health authorities in the contact-tracing of police personnel and inmates who are exposed to COVID-19 patients and the disinfection of the police station’s premises in case there is an infected police personnel and inmate from the police station.
The city police director said the implementation of health and safety protocols in police stations came after six inmates at Police Station 6 in Barangay Bula, this city, tested positive for COVID-19.
Tuzon said the police had to comply with the legal requirements needed by the court to transfer the custody of the infected inmates into an isolation facility since they are facing illegal drug charges with no bail recommended.
“We need the appropriate court order to transfer the custody of these detainees to isolation facilities,” Tuzon said.