CEBU CITY – Seventeen out of the 24 inmates of the Argao Municipal Police Station in Cebu have contracted COVID-19.
Police Major Shiela Gurtiza, chief of the Argao police, said nine inmates initially tested positive for the disease and eight more were added to the list in another round of swab testing last Friday.
Gurtiza said the police station was cordoned off while inmates’ visitation was suspended.
“Some of them manifested symptoms such as low-grade fever. We are constantly monitoring them so that if their conditions worsen, we will bring them to the hospital,” said Gurtiza.
Although the station is off limits to the public, the delivery of basic services remained unhampered, Gurtiza said.
A training center which is about 20 meters from the station has been used to process police clearances and other services, Gurtiza added.
Gurtiza assured that the PDLs are being taken care of to help them recover from the virus.
As a precaution, the infected PDLs were placed in a cell separate from other inmates.
The police station also underwent regular disinfection while the inmates have been receiving multi-dose vitamins, said Gurtiza.
“There were times that we have to use money from our own pockets so we can provide them with their needs. Even if these people are facing cases, they are still humans who need our care,” said Gurtiza.
Gurtiza said the Argao police are in close coordination with the Regional Health Unit of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas to monitor the health of the infected inmates.
The station has also taken necessary measures to protect the police personnel from contracting the virus, said Gurtiza.