Infected Coast Guard personnel number 313

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has announced that the number of personnel infected by the coronavirus has reached 313.

The COVID-19 positive personnel were deployed in strategic areas for the health and safety of returning overseas Filipinos (ROF) and their families, locally stranded individuals (LSI), fellow frontline workers, as well as maritime stakeholders including fishermen, ship crew, and cargo truck drivers.

PCG Commandant, Vice Admiral George Ursabia Jr. has directed the PCG Task Force Bayanihan ROF to ensure that the infected personnel are immediately pulled out from their stations and provided with medical assistance and other resource support for their speedy recovery.

“Of the 313 affected personnel, 83 of them already tested negative for COVID-19 based on their latest swab test results. We are blessed enough that majority of our infected frontline workers are asymptomatic,” said Ursabia. “Nevertheless, we are regularly checking their health condition to ensure that they recuperate well. We are asking for prayers so they may regain their full health and return to service in the soonest possible time.”

More than a hundred PCG medical personnel are deployed to administer swab tests among ROF at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Palacio de Maynila Testing Center.

The task force also formed medical teams that provide mobile testing services to quarantine hotels with untested ROF and to government agencies that are providing frontline services to the general public.