The Philippine National Police (PNP) has urged its personnel and even the public not to self-medicate if they are infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), citing the case of a 43-year old police sergeant who died after a late medical intervention.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said the police sergeant first experienced loss of taste and smell on August 3 which prompted him to undergo a rapid antigen which yielded positive result.

Based on the report of the medical unit of the National Capital Region Police Office, the police sergeant self-medicated but eventually was forced to seek medical intervention when the symptoms he felt persisted. He also suffered cough and colds during that time.

He was later subjected to a more accurate RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction) and was immediately taken to a quarantine facility after he tested positive.

He died on August 7 and became the 87th fatality of COVID-19 in the police organization. Further verification revealed that the police sergeant has not been inoculated.

“The entire PNP deeply sympathizes with the family of the said police officer. We assure the bereaved family of financial assistance and a prompt release of all death benefits due him,” said Eleazar.

“This is again is a reminder to all of our PNP personnel. Do not self-meditate but rather, seek immediate professional medical attention upon the onset symptoms of COVID-19,” he added.

Since last year, the PNP recorded more than 31,000 infection in its ranks. The recovery rate, however, remains high at more than 94 percent.

On the other hand, a total of 63,553 or 28.24 percent PNP personnel are now fully vaccinated while 57,466 personnel or 25.94 percent have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine leaving a remainder of 101,488 PNP personnel or 45.82 percent unvaccinated.