60 cops positive for COVID-19

The Philippine National Police recorded its biggest spike in coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 infections yesterday.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said 60 of their personnel, four of them officials, tested positive for the virus in a span of 24 hours, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 579.

A majority of the latest cases are from Central Visayas and Central Luzon, with 22 cases each.

Metro Manila, including Camp Crame, has 15 and Eastern Visayas, one.

Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, Central Luzon police director, said the infected police officers in the region have been undergoing training at the Angeles City and Mabalacat City police since March.

“They were pulled out from their respective posts for treatment. We are conducting contact tracing to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Sermonia said.

He said the police officers are under the supervision of the Regional Special Training Unit 3 of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Training Services at the Clark Freeport.

The PNP leadership stressed the need to intensify the implementation of health protocols as it expressed concern over the increase in confirmed cases among its personnel.

Forty-three PNP personnel tested positive for the virus from June 19 to June 21.

The death toll remained at nine while 317 or 54.74 percent have recovered.

At least 1,611 other PNP personnel, who manifested symptoms, are being monitored.