COVID-19 cases in PNP hit 3,506

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded another surge in coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 cases, with 126 recorded on Monday.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said the total number of cases in the police force is now 3,506.

Seventy-nine of the new cases are in Metro Manila while eight are in the Cordilleras.

Three cases were recorded in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, two each in Calabarzon, Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas and one in Zamboanga peninsula.

The remaining new cases are from various national administrative and operational support units of the PNP.

The death toll is at 16 while 2,521 or 71.90 percent of the patients have recovered.

In Nueva Ecija, nine police officers and two non-uniformed personnel in tested positive for the virus yesterday.

The Department of Health said seven of the patients, who are assigned in Jaen town, were exposed to a police officer in Bongabon who was found infected with the virus on Aug. 16.

Two other police officers and two inmates in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan tested positive for COVID-19, also yesterday, Lt. Col. Jonalyn Tecbobolan, city police chief, said.

Tecbobolan said the number of infected spolice personnel and inmates in the city is now 11.

The police office has been on lockdown since Aug. 17 after a non-uniformed personnel was infected.