Repubiic of the Philippines NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSION NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF, PNP Camp BGen Rafael T Crame, Quezon City MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR No.9 Q 2 1 7 is MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19 RELATED DEATHS AT PNP-MAINTAINED ISOLATION/QUARANTINE FACILITIES 1. REFERENCES: a. Presidential Decree No. 856 enacted on December 23, 1975 entitled “Code of Sanitation of the Philippines”, b. DILG-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 01 Series of 2020 dated April 16, 2020 entitled “Suppletory Guidelines on the Management ‘of Human Remains for Patient Under Investigation (PUI) and Confirmed COVID-19 Cases (DILG MC No. 2020-083)" ©. DILG MC No. 2020-083 dated March 27, 2020 entitled, ‘Interim Guidelines on the Management of Human Remains for Patient under Investigation (PUI) and Confirmed Corona virus Disease 2019 (COVID- 19) Cases": d. DOH MC No. 2020-0158 dated March 22, 2020 entitled, “Proper Handling of the Remains of Suspect, Probable and Confirmed COVID-19 Cases’ . DOH MC No. 2020-067 dated February 3, 2020 entitied, “Guidelines on the Disposal and Shipment of the Remains of Confirmed Cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease (2019-nCov ARD)": f. Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution No. 74, Series of 2020 dated September 24, 2020; and 9. Memorandum from TOCO/ASCOTF Commander dated October 5, 2020 with subject: Guidelines in Placing COVID-19 Confirmed PNP Personnel in Isolation Facility. 2. RATIONALE: This Memorandum Circular (MC) provides the standard guidelines, policies @nd procedures in the management of COVID-19 related deaths at the PNP- maintained Quarantine/isolation Facilities within the National Headquarters, NCR District camps and other PNP-maintained/rented facilities within NCR. 3. SITUATION: More than a year since the first Cc EPsia "iss ion was recorded in the Philippines, the invisible but highly cont: ‘al y OVID-19 Virus has ie @E Lanoratorysignificantly impacted the socio-economic stability and affected every stratum of the society. While performing its mandate of maintaining peace and security, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been deeply engaged in assisting the government in battling the virus through the enforcement of IATF guidelines and health safety protocols by the JTF COVID Shield. However, its personnel being in the frontline, are not spared from the onslaught. On record, as of May 14, 2021, more than 21,000 personnel were already infected. Although a big percentage of those infected have already recovered, sadly a total of 60 had died. Despite the threat and the continuing rise of infection not only of PNP Personnel who are performing operational functions but also those performing administrative functions, the organization through Administrative Support to COVID Operations Task Force (ASCOTF) provided timely and relevant health care and other administrative support services. On top of the several issuances cascaded to ensure the protection of all PNP personnel from further COVID-19 virus infection, PNP Quarantine Facilities were established in the National Headquarters (NHQ) and different Police Regional Offices (PROs) to cater to the isolation and health care Needs of personne! who tested positive for COVID-19, ranging from asymptomatic to manifestation of mild symptoms while those with severe symptoms are being immediately referred to tertiary hospitals. Despite the established constant and close monitoring mechanisms by the PNP Health Service (HS), there could still be personnel who are vulnerable and might succumb to the virus. 4, PURPOSE: This MC aims to provide the guiding principles for the PNP Health Service (HS) healthcare administrators and personnel in managing COVID-19 related deaths within the PNP-maintained isolation/quarantine facilities. 5. DEFINITION OF TERMS: 2. Burial — refers to the internment of remains in a grave, tomb or the sea. b. Cremation — the process that reduces human remains to bone fragments of fine sand or ashes ‘through combustion and dehydration. ©. Crematorium - any designated place duly authorized by law to cremate dead persons. d. Death Certificate — a document issued by the attending physician or in his absence, by the city/municipal nealth officer or other duly authorized government official, using the prescribed form certifying the death of a parson. €. Embalming ~ preparin before its final disposal. disinfe : _and preserving a dead body hh uh tbr)f. Funeral Establishment - includes funeral pariors, funeral chapels and any similar place used in the preparation, storage, and care of the body of a deceased parson for burial or cremation g. Isolation Facility — designated erea to accommodate PNP personnel who had close contact with COVID-19 confirmed personnel and are awaiting for RT-PCR resutts h. Local Government Unit (LGU) - the local political subdivision which refers to the province, city, municipality or barangay. i. MDM — acronym for Management of the Dead and Missing. which is headed by the Department of interior and Local Government (DILG) and under the response cluster of National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC) in support to the National Action Plan on the pandemic. j. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - refer to the materials used to cover the human body or any part of the human body in order to prevent contamination from the disease. This includes facial mask, eye protectors or goggles, gown, gloves, etc. k. Quarantine Facility - designated area to accommodate PNP personnel who tasted positive for COVID-19 |. Remains — the body or parts of the body of a dead person including the cremated remains. 6, GUIDELINES: a. General Guidelines: 1) The identity and other personel deteils of the deceased shall be respected at all times and remain confidential. unless otherwise provided by law 2) In handling the remains of confirmed COVID-19 cases, the universal standard and transmission-based precautions and DOH- recommended guidelines and procedures must be strictly observed 3) All personne! handling the dead body/body parts are required to wear the appropriate PPE while performing their tasks. All PPE shall be properly disposed of, after its use 4) Suspect and probable COVID-19 patients who died with pending test results shall be handled similar to confirmed COVID-19 case. bERiitied 1) burr5) Ensure minimal handling of the body. Hygienic preparation, such as cleaning of the body, tidying of hair, trimming of nails and shaving, and embalming of the remains shall not be allowed. 8) For confirmed positive, human remains should be cremated/buried within 12 hours after death. However, for those in isolation and due for discharge, but died of natural death (heart attack, etc.), the family shall be given the decision for the wake and mode of burial 7) The remains of all Musiims classified as suspect, probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases should be buried within 12 hours from the time of death at the nearest Muslim cemetery. An Imam from the Chaplain Service shall provide assistance and will perform islamic burial rites. 8) The cost of burial or cremation of a dead person shall be borne by the nearest kin. If the kin is not financially capable of defraying the expenses of if the deceased had no kin, the cost shall be bome by the city or municipal government. For PNP personnel, the burial/cremation and other incidental expenses shall be borne by the PNP. 9) The LGUs maintain a list of accredited/commissioned funeral parlors which will handle the remains of the deceased to include the transfertransport of humen_ remains. 10)The PNP Crime Laboratory (CL) shall provide technical assistance on the orientation of funeral workers about universal, standard, and trensmission-based precautions. 11)Prohibitions. a)It shall be unlawful to disclose the personal identity of the deceased who died due to COVID-19 andior its complications to the general public, However, disclosure of the personal information of the deceased shall be allowed in the following cases: (1) A written consent was secured from the deceased while he/she was still alive or from a preferred legitimate and rightful claimant; and (2) For purposes of conducting the contact tracing. b) It shall be uniewful for any person to take, capture, upload, or share @ photo or video of the last image of the human remains who died due to COVID-19 and/or its complications in any media or social media platfor si 4 ) jb. Specific Guidelines: 1) The management of the COVID-19 related deaths at PNP- maintained Quarantine/lsolation Facilities shall be carried out in the following manner: a) In case of sudden death, HS shall immediately inform the unit where the personnel is assigned and immediately contact the family or the nearest of kin; and b) The family shall determine whether the deceased shall be buried or cremated and their choice of funeral service. ¢) HS shall also immediately report the death to the PNP MDM. Representative who will coordinate with the local MDM counterpart of the area where the PNP Quarantine/isolation Facility is located, for the provision of funeral services, transportation. and other requirements. d) Aside from an incident report to be submitted to the PNP hierarchy, the HS shall initiate a formal investigation on the circumstances surrounding the sudden death. 2) Requirements for Burial/Cremation: a) Only the HS Medical Officer or the attending physician of the deceased PNP personnel shall issue the death certificate to the relatves of the deceased and report the death to the City Epidemiologic Surveillance Unit; and b) The relatives of the deceased shall facilitate the death registration at the civil registrar and processing at the funeral parlor of choice that will handle the remains. 3) Retrieval or removal of human remains from the isolation room: The facility health workers shall process the human remains and provide appropriate post-mortem care. The following must be observed: a) Ensure to apply universal precautions at all times including appropriate use of PPE, long sieved gown, gloves, and facial protection; b) All attached apparatuses such as tubes. drains. catheters on the human remains should be removed with extreme caution and disposed of safely; ) Oral, nasal, and rectal,qrifices of the human remains have to be plugged to prevent leakage oF bédy Aids!»d) Wrap the body with cloth and place in a robust and leak-proofed cadaver bag, and shall be zipped or closed tightly with tapes and bandage strips with proper labeling/tagging, e)The outside surface of the cadaver bag should be decontaminated with hypochlorite solution (50-100 ppm) or any hospital-approved disinfectant and allowed to air dry before handover; f) Ensure that the human remains is fully sealed in an impermeable cadaver bag before being removed from the isolation room or area: g) Attach the biohazard tag (SUSPECTED or POSITIVE COVID- 48-HANDLE WITH CARE) to the cadaver bag before transporting the human remains; and h) At NO instance shall unzipping the cadaver bag of the body and removal of the body be permitted. 4) ‘Transport of human remains to the funeral parior/crematorium: a) The accredited funeral establishment, which has been tapped by the LGU as coordinated by the PNP MDM Representative, shall provide the transport of the cadaver to the burial site/crematorium, b) The vehicle shall be disinfected immediately after the cadaver has been removed. ¢) The local PNP shall provide security and ensure that family members shall not touch the deceased person's body. d) There shall be no stop-over during transport unless in an ‘emergency or when requested at the checkpoints, 5) Decontamination Procedures: a) Health Care Waste Management - Items classified as infectious waste must be handled and disposed of properly with reference to the DOH Health Care Waste Management Manual; b) Environmental Control (1) As the standard decontamination solution for infectious diseases use hypochlorite solution 5000ppm or mixing 2 part bleach with 18 parts water; (2) All surfaces inated should be decontaminated with Suet ee Ae dike decenamneton solution,leave it for 15 to 30 minutes, and then rinse with water. Metal surfaces could be wiped with 70% ethyl! alcohol: (3) Surfaces visibly contaminated with blood and body fiuids should be decontaminated with the standard decontamination solution, leave it for 10 minutes and then rinse with water, (4) Bleach solution should be freshly prepared; and (5) Full burial honors shall be accorded to deceased police officers in accordance with the PNP tradition. This shall be spearheaded by the unit where the personnel was assigned c. Responsibilities: 4) HS a) Designated as OPR for this activity; b) Submit IMPLAN to DO (Attn: PSD) two days upon receipt of this MC; and ¢) Perform other tasks as directed. 2) pc a) Provide funds for the incidental expenses and other requirements; and b) Perform other tasks as directed. 3) RD, NCRPO/D, Crame-based Offices a) Ensure the immediate dissemination of this MC; and b) Perform other tasks as directed. 4) CL (PNP MDM Representative) a) Coordinate with local MDM counterparts es needed; and b) Perform other task as directed d. Coordinating Instructions: 1) Lateral coordination among involved offices is encouraged; and 2) PNP MDM representative is directed to coordinate in advance with the different local MDM representatives within the National Capital Region regarding this MC. 7. ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTION: Violation of or failure to implement guidelines set forth by this MC shall cause the filing of appropriate administrative cherges to all concerned PNP Personnel pursuant to NAPOLCOM Memorandum Gircular Number 2016-002.8. REPEALING CLAUSE: ‘Al existing PNP issuances that are not consistent with this MC are deemed repealed, amended, or rescinded accordingly. 9. EFFECTIVITY This MCshall take effect 15 days from the filing of @ copy thereof at the UP Law Center in consonance with ‘Sections and 4 of Chapter 2, Book VII of Executive Order 262 otherwise known as the "Revised Administrative Code of 1987", as amended. GUILLERMO LPR ELEAZAR Police General Chief, PNP RR CNP ins: sonerse Bie Nm Command Group 3085759 RD, NCRPO JUN 04 off Dirs, NSUs GERTIMED TAYE