COVID-19 cases among PNP personnel hit 2,757

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-five more police officers have contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

Philippine National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said 2,757 PNP personnel have been infected with the virus as of Thursday.

Eight of the new cases are from Metro Manila, eight from Calabarzon, two from Ilocos, two from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and one each from Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

The other three patients are with various PNP support units.

At least 2,973 other police officers who showed symptoms of the virus or had interacted with COVID-19 patients are being monitored.

Five personnel of the Negros Occidental police were among those who recently tested positive for the virus.

Two members of the Bangsamoro police were also infected.

Elizabeth Samama, Maguindanao health office chief, said the police officers could have contracted the virus from a tailor of military uniforms in Iligan City.

In Central Visayas, regional police director Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro said the recovery rate of infected police officers is at 90 percent.

Ferro said 64 police trainees were released from a recovery center in Barangay Jugan in Consolacion, Cebu yesterday.

The remaining 30 of the 500 infected police officers in the region are expected to be discharged next week.

Meanwhile, the headquarters of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) remains on lockdown as two more cases were recorded yesterday.

Lt. Keith Katherine Cuario, NFWM spokesperson, said there are now 31 cases in the naval base from only two cases recorded two weeks ago. – John Unson, Gilbert Bayoran, Roel Pareño, Iris Hazel Mascardo/The Freeman