MANILA, Philippines — Another police officer died due to COVID-19, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday, adding that it has also logged 116 new COVID-19 cases within its ranks.
As of May 31, the total number of infections among the force’s ranks is now at 23,983
The new reported death, on the other hand, puts the death toll in the force at 66.
According to PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, the latest death is of a 52-year old police captain from Zamboanga City.
Eleazar said the officer first tested positive for COVID-19 on May 1 and was immediately brought to the hospital. He was then transferred to the ICU on May 18, due to difficulty breathing and was intubated.
He later succumbed to the virus on May 30 at around 5:22 a.m.
“Nakakalungkot po na araw-araw ay may naiimpeksyon sa aming hanay, kaya naman patuloy po ang ating paalala sa mga pulis na magdoble ingat. Hindi lamang para sa kanilang pangsariling proteksyon kundi maging sa kanilang pamilya,” Eleazar said.
(It is unfortunate that we record infections in our ranks every day, so we continue to remind the police to be careful. Not only for their personal protection but also for their families.)
The PNP also reported that there are currently 1,850 active cases and 22,067 recoveries (73 new recoveries) among its ranks.
On Sunday, health experts said that total infections nationwide have now reached 1,223,627 COVID-19 cases, including 53,757 active cases, 1,149,010 recoveries, and 20,860 deaths.
READ: PH logs 7,058 new COVID-19 cases, 139 deaths — DOH