BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) confirmed on Monday (January 4) that there are positive cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among its cadets and military and civilian personnel.
In a statement released by Public Affairs Office Chief Major Cherryl Tindog (PN), the cases were confirmed after the Academy conducted, for the first time since the pandemic, a mass RT-PCR testing to detect the presence of COVID19 in response to the expanded testing efforts of the local government units (LGU) and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
The official said the Academy only had rapid tests among cadets and personnel since March 2020.
“After the Command’s initiative for mass RT-PCR testing with the help of the Philippine Coast Guard, a number of cadets, civilian human resource (manongs) and organic military personnel were identified to have contracted the virus,” Tindog said.
“These cases were properly reported and coordinated with the health officials of the City of Baguio. The patients are presently being treated, their contacts were traced and isolated, and the further spread is contained, in coordination with concerned government agencies,” she added.
The Academy’s PAO Chief confirmed, however, that all affected are asymptomatic and pose no greater danger to cadets’ health.
She added that a number of those infected already have recovered.
“We assure the parents and their families that their health and needs are being attended to by Headquarters PMA,” Major Tindog said.
The official also assured that aside from the tests, the Academy has conducted immediate isolation of positive cases, lockdown, contact tracing, quarantine of general contacts, and disinfection of affected areas per the PMA’s safety and health protocol for COVID19 and that of the DOH.
The Academy vows to continue the RT-PCR testing as part of the PMA’s effort to eradicate COVID-19 within the Cadet Corps and the whole of the institution.
“The Academy remains to be on top of the situation and continues to take the advice and guidance from the General Headquarters to address this concern. We continue to seek your understanding and prayers for the Academy in the midst of this pandemic,” Major Tindog said.
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