A 31-year old female police investigator from General Santos City died three days after she underwent an emergency operation to save her baby, the recent heartbreaking story that hit Filipinos amid the continuous onslaught of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.
Since the Philippine National Police (PNP) does not disclose the names and other specific details of COVID fatalities, the policewoman was referred to as Patient 98 who tested positive for the coronavirus on August 5. Patient 98 because she was the 98th PNP personnel who died of COVID-19.
“She was first admitted to the provincial hospital due to shortness of breath on August 5. On August 10, she underwent an emergency cesarean section operation and successfully delivered the baby,” a report from the PNP Health Service read.
“On August 13, her condition worsened and was transferred to a nearby hospital but she succumbed due to acute respiratory failure,” it added.
The baby is reportedly still under observation.
While her case was already considered as COVID-19 when she was admitted to the hospital, the confirmation that she was COVID-positive was released after her death.
It was not immediately clear how she was infected as there was already an existing order, which was issued last year, from Camp Crame that all pregnant PNP personnel are not required from going to police offices.
The female police investigator was the second pregnant police officer who died of COVID-19. Early this year, a 39-year old pregnant cop from Valenzuela City. She died with her baby.
Meanwhile, the 97th fatality in the PNP from COVID-19 which was also reported on Wednesday, August 18, was a 52-year-old intelligence operative assigned in Metro Manila.
He was fully vaccinated on July 14, 2021.
He was admitted to a hospital on August 14 for immediate medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival by his attending physician. A post mortem examination and swab test were conducted which yielded a positive result.
Since last year, the PNP has recorded a total of 32,760 COVID cases with a total of 98 deaths. Currently, there are 1,983 active cases.