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MANILA – The number of police officers infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has reached over 3,000, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday.
As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, the PNP Health Service logged 55 new Covid-19 infections among its ranks, increasing the tally to 3,035.
Meanwhile, a total of 2,221 personnel have already recovered from the disease while the death toll remains at 13.
The PNP health division is also monitoring 760 probable cases and 2,417 suspected cases.
PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa earlier said most of the Covid-19 infections among police officers came from those deployed at quarantine control points.
Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte raised the possibility of tapping the military to help the PNP enforce the community quarantine if people would continue to disregard the health protocols and restrictions amid the rising Covid-19 cases in the country.
“The military is not part of the governance yet in the matter of using force or at least intimidating you with soldiers. Far from it, we do not have that plan. But if you won’t learn your lesson — it’s a runaway contagion — I will be forced to use the military because we really lack police officers,” Duterte said in a televised public address on Aug. 10.
As of Aug. 18, the Philippines has recorded 169,213 Covid-19 infections with 116,861 recoveries and 2,687 deaths. (PNA)
