Ilocos PNP still on lockdown

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — The Ilocos regional police office in San Fernando City, La Union remains on lockdown after 20 more police officers tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Monday.

Brig. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., regional police director, said the 20 police officers were exposed to their five colleagues who had earlier contracted the  virus.

The regional police office has been locked down since Sept. 1.

Azurin said 856 or 10 percent of the 8,631 Philippine National Police (PNP)personnel in the region have undergone swab testing.

He said 56 have been infected since March 16. Thirty-one have recovered.

Of the 25 active cases, 21 are from the regional headquarters, two from Pangasinan and one each from the La Union police and national support unit office.

Meanwhile, the PNP recorded a surge in confirmed cases among its ranks on Monday at 133.

The number of infected PNP personnel is now 4,562.

The death toll remains at 16 while 3,255 or about 71.35 percent of the patients have recovered.

Metro Manila has 88 new cases; Calabarzon, 21; Western Visayas, six; Eastern Visayas and Zamboanga peninsula, three each, and Soccsksargen, one.