EPD under lockdown

MANILA, Philippines — The Eastern Police District (EPD) headquarters in Pasig City was placed under lockdown yesterday after 24 of its police officers tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19. 

EPD director Brig. Gen. Johnson Almazan, who tested negative for the virus, said the lockdown would last until Sunday. 

He said the infected police officers were brought to an isolation facility.

Thirty-nine more police officers have tested positive for the virus, bringing to 179 the number of Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel infected with COVID-19.

Of the 179 patients, 118 or 65.92 percent are still undergoing treatment. Six remain confined in hospitals while the rest are recuperating in quarantine facilities or at home.

The number of deaths stood at four while 57 or 31.84 percent have recovered from the disease.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said there is no cause for alarm in the spike of COVID-19 cases among police officers.

A police investigator in Caloocan also tested positive for the virus, city police chief Col. Dario Menor said.

Menor said the officer has not shown symptoms of COVID-19.

The patient was among the 966 police personnel who underwent swab testing from May 1 to 6.

Menor said they would conduct contact tracing among colleagues as well as suspects and detainees who had interaction with the investigator.