MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has placed five of its regional offices, including the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) under a full alert status following the rising number of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the country.
Aside from NCRPO, also placed under full alert status are the Police Regional Offices in Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), and the Bicol Region, said Maj. Gen. Benigno Durana Jr., head of the Directorate for Police Community Relations and acting spokesperson of the PNP in a text message on Friday.
The order took effect on Thursday and will be enforced “until officially lifted as situation permits,” said Durana.
“Daily assessment will be conducted,” he added.
Under a full alert status, all leaves of police officers are canceled to ensure their availability for deployment.
On Thursday night, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered that Metro Manila be placed on “community quarantine” to contain the spread of COVID-19. This after confirmed COVID-19 cases increased recently in the country, particularly in Metro Manila.
Under a “community quarantine,” land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila are be suspended starting March 15, 2020, until April 14.
The President earlier declared a state of public health emergency as the government struggles to control the spread of the virus.
A total of 52 patients have tested positive for COVID-19 in the country as of Thursday. Five of these cases have ended in deaths.