PNP records 77 new COVID-19 cases

MANILA, Philippines — The total number of police officers who have tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 rose to 2,919 after 77 more contracted the disease, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

Records show a majority of the fresh cases were recorded in the National Capital Region Police Office with 33.

Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) police followed next with nine.

Central Luzon and Central Visayas police recorded seven each; the Cordilleras, five; Western Visayas, three, and Davao, two.

The rest of the cases were recorded in the national operational support unit with five and three each in the national administrative unit and the national headquarters.

Total recoveries within the force rose to 2,097 after 78 personnel recovered from the disease. The number of fatalities remained at 13.

The PNP is monitoring at least 3,125 officers who have either shown symptoms of the virus or had interacted with COVID-19 patients.

Locked down

Meanwhile, another police station in Iloilo was locked down after one of its personnel tested positive for COVID-19.

The Miag-ao police station will be closed for 14 days after a 25-year-old personnel contracted the virus, according to Col. Paul Kenneth Lucas, provincial police director.

The personnel underwent swab testing on Aug. 10 after experiencing mild symptoms of COVID.

The result was released on Saturday, confirming he is infected with the virus.

The station will be closed for disinfection and its personnel will be temporarily housed in the municipal gym.

On Aug. 13, the police station of Igbaras town was also locked down after the entire force was exposed to a COVID patient.