The number of police officers who contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has reached 1,298.

As of Wednesday night, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Health Service reported 59 more Covid-19 cases among its ranks.

A total of 529 personnel have recovered from the disease while the death toll stands at nine.

The PNP Health Service is also monitoring 640 probable cases and 1,387 suspected cases.

In a statement, PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa vowed to improve healthcare support for police front-liners manning quarantine checkpoints through building more quarantine facilities and testing hubs.

“(The) PNP is now preparing to establish more quarantine centers and testing hubs as we improve our healthcare support mechanism for our police front-liners and personnel who are exposed to the risk of contamination while fulfilling their duties,” he said.

Gamboa has ordered police health personnel to implement stricter measures in all PNP-operated quarantine facilities and testing centers.

At present, the PNP is operating and managing seven quarantine and testing facilities as part of a supportive healthcare system for police front-liners in response to the health crisis.

Gamboa said these quarantine facilities and testing centers are duly accredited and approved by the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The quarantine facility in Ultra Stadium in Pasig City is now catering to 103 patients with a remaining 29 available rooms while 107 patients are now at the PICC quarantine center with 186 available rooms.

Gamboa said the Kiangan Billeting Center in Camp Crame has admitted 25 PNP personnel with 17 more rooms available.

The 46-bed capacity taekwondo quarters in Camp Crame also admitted eight personnel while all rooms are available as of now at the Transformation Oval Quarantine Facility.

Gamboa said the infected cops came from those who are manning quarantine checkpoints.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan, PNP deputy chief for administration and head of the Administrative Support to Covid-19 Operations Task Force, said the Rapid Testing center in Camp Sotero in Cabahug, Cebu is already under construction to accommodate the policemen in the locality.

Cascolan said the PNP has released PHP17 million for the construction of the facility, acquisition of necessary laboratory equipment, and training of health personnel. (PNA)