MANILA, Philippines — Sixteen more police officers have tested positive for SARS-CoV2, which causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), bringing the total number of cases within the Philippine National Police (PNP) to 250.
“As of 6:00PM of May 18, 2020, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the PNP organization rises to 250 with four (4) deaths and 69 recoveries,” read the statement from PNP’s official Facebook page on Monday.
Meanwhile, the PNP Health Service (PNP-HS) also recorded 754 probable cases. COVID-19 test results are pending.
It also documented 538 suspected cases.
Previously, PNP HS said it expects COVID-19 cases in the police force to surge as more police frontliners are tested.
“Police health authorities have ramped-up mass testing among police frontliners, expecting the number of confirmed cases to rise in the next few days due to pending results of some confirmatory tests,” a PNP-HS statement said.
The PNP has three quarantine facilities in its national headquarters in Quezon City – Kiangan Billeting Center, Oval Transformation Quarantine Facility and Taekwondo quarters.