Cop dies of COVID

A 48-year-old policeman from Parañaque City has succumbed to the coronavirus disease 2019, bringing to four the number of Philippine National Police members who died of COVID-19 infection, the PNP reported yesterday.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said the fatality, listed as patient 110, died on April 13 due to kidney failure.

The police officer had tested positive for COVID-19, Banac said.

Two more policemen, aged 29 and 32, both assigned in Metro Manila were found positive for COVID-19, bringing to 114 the number of PNP personnel infected with the virus.

Three police officers who had tested positive for the virus succumbed to the respiratory disease, Banac said.

He said a total of 744 police officers are under monitoring for exhibiting symptoms of the virus.

Banac said 1,217 PNP members suspected to have contracted the virus are ready to go back to duty after completing the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Meanwhile, medical personnel of the PNP will oversee the operations at Philsports Arena in Pasig, which was converted into a 132-bed quarantine facility, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said yesterday.

The facility was donated by the Villar Group of Companies.

Thirty-six police personnel consisting of six doctors, nine nurses and 21 members of the medical reserve force were deployed to the facility, which will admit mild to moderate COVID-19 cases.

The PNP personnel will be divided into three groups and will work in shifts, Banac said.