AFP, PNP coronavirus infections rise

MANILA, Philippines — Thirteen more Army soldiers deployed in Cebu have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

Liland Estacion, Negros Oriental assistant provincial health officer, said the soldiers are among the 16 new confirmed cases in the province.

Estacion said the infected soldiers were with a group of 33 soldiers who returned to the province on June 23.

Col. Noel Baluyan, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said the soldiers are with the 33rd Division Reconnaissance Company who were sent to Cebu in March to help enforce the community quarantine.

Baluyan said those who tested negative for the virus remain in isolation at Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay City.

Seven soldiers who returned in Negros Oriental last week after their deployment in Cebu were also infected.

Estacion said the three other new cases are locally stranded individuals from Bulacan and Mandaue City in Cebu.

Negros Oriental has 55 confirmed cases as of Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the number of COVID-19 infections in the police force is nearly 1,000 after 39 new cases were recorded on Wednesday night.

PNP chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said four of the new patients are officials.

Gamboa said 35 of those infected are assigned in Metro Manila, two in Calabarzon and one each in Central Visayas and the Cordilleras.

He said 23 remain confined in hospitals. The rest are quarantined at their home or isolation facilities.

At least 1,915 other police personnel who have symptoms of the virus or interacted with COVID-19 patients are being monitored.

No longer COVID-free

Meanwhile, all the towns and cities in Bulacan now have confirmed cases.

Donya Remedios Trinidad town recorded on Wednesday its first case, a 25-year-old female.

Four new cases were also recorded in Meycauayan City and one each in Pulilan, Pandi, Marilao, Angat, Baliwag, San Rafael, Bulakan and Malolos.

San Jose del Monte City has the highest number of cases at 106.

The number of confirmed cases in Bulacan is now 545. At least 230 have recovered and 36 died.

In Bataan, a seven-year-old girl, a resident of Mariveles town, is the latest confirmed case. Emmanuel Tupas, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ric Sapnu