24 EPD cops test positive for COVID-19; headquarters on lockdown

MANILA, Philippines — The Eastern Police District (EPD) Headquarters in Pasig City has been placed on lockdown after 24 policemen tested positive for coronavirus.

“Ididisinfect po namin ang district headquarters, marami kaming personnel na nagpositive. As of now, 24 na po (ang nagpositive),” EPD director Brig. Gen. Johnson Almazan said in a phone interview with reporters.

(We will disinfect the district headquarters, we have a lot of personnel who tested positive. As of now, 24 are positive.)

Almazan said the lockdown at the EPD Headquarters, which is very near the Pasig City Hall, started on May 13, Wednesday, and is expected to end May 17, Sunday.

Almazan said most of the police officers who contracted the respiratory ailment were assigned at checkpoints. The policemen are now staying at various quarantine facilities for treatment, Almazan said.

He added that new cases were detected after police officers underwent swab tests from Marikina and San Juan testing centers.

Recently, the Quezon City Police District Headquarters in Camp Karingal was also placed under lockdown from May 9 to May 12 after 13 policemen and a soldier were diagnosed with COVID-19.

EDV