More frontliners test positive for COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — More police and health frontliners are testing positive for coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, authorities said yesterday.

The Philippine National Police said 33 more police officers contracted the virus, bringing to 2,347 the total number of cases in the PNP.

In Zamboanga City, seven Marine troopers tested positive for COVID, prompting officials of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) to lock down its station.

The new cases brought to 21 the number of troopers under the Combat Service Support Brigade who contracted COVID, according to Lt. Keith Katherine Cuario, spokesperson for the NWFM.

In Negros Occidental, four more doctors and two nurses were added to the list of healthworkers who got infected with the virus.

In a report released on Wednesday night, the PNP said 16 of the infected officers are assigned in Metro Manila, including one at Camp Crame.

Four are in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and two each in Ilocos region, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) and Western Visayas.

Some of the PNP’s national support units recorded new infections among its personnel. Among these units is the intelligence group with two cases.

The PNP’s information technology management service, headquarters support service, drug enforcement group, anti-cybercrime group and crime laboratory have one case each.

At least 3,240 other police personnel showing symptoms of the virus and had close contact with COVID-19 patients are under observation.

The doctors and nurses who tested positive for COVID are assigned at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMRH) in Bacolod City, according to Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chief of the local task force on COVID.

The number of cases in the province is nearing 900 as of Wednesday.

Earlier, four doctors assigned at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City and Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospital in La Carlota City tested positive for the virus.

Julius Drilon, CLMRH medical director, said the healthworkers have been isolated and contact tracing is being conducted.

Services at the hospital’s outpatient, gynecology, neonatal and general surgery departments were suspended for disinfection.

Ninety personnel of the CLMRH were subjected to swab tests.

Mayor, wife, son get COVID

The mayor of Ilagan City in Isabela, his wife and their son have tested positive for COVID.

After receiving the results of their swab tests yesterday, Mayor Jose Marie Diaz placed the city under enhanced community quarantine effective yesterday until Aug. 12.

Diaz said his wife Evelyn and son Jayee, sectoral representative and member of the city council, respectively, also contracted the virus.

He expressed alarm over a possible community transmission of the virus, noting their exposure to people in and outside of the city hall.

Work at the city hall was suspended as officials and employees were advised to undergo home quarantine.

Diaz ordered the city hall and its premises disinfected during the duration of the lockdown.

Other members of the Diaz’s household were subjected to swab tests as well as their aides.

Isabela recorded 26 new COVID cases yesterday, bringing the total number of infections in Cagayan Valley to 397.

Meanwhile, aside from face masks, the municipal governments of Cainta and Taytay in Rizal required residents to wear face shields in private and public places.

Violators will be fined P1,000, according to Taytay Mayor Joric Gacula. — Gilbert Bayoran, Raymund Catindig, Neil Jayson Servallos