Ilocos town PNP station on lockdown

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Philippines — An augmentation team was deployed to take over the police station in Vintar, Ilocos Norte, which was locked down yesterday, after a police officer tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

Col. Colonel Christopher Abrahano, Ilocos Norte police director, said the lockdown would be implemented for two weeks.

Vintar Mayor Larisa Foronda mobilized the municipal health office and incident command system to conduct contact tracing and implement health protocols to prevent local transmission.

Police officers in Itogon, Benguet also underwent swab testing after five of their colleagues were found infected on Sunday.

In Negros Occidental, personnel of the EB Magalona police station were tested for COVID-19 after two police officers contracted the virus.

Lt. Wilma Silva, provincial police spokesperson, said personnel of the First Provincial Mobile Force Company were deployed to man the police station.

A member of the Victorias City police was also found infected.

Sixty-two more police officers have contracted the virus, bringing the total to 6,471, the Philippine National Police reported yesterday.