Ilocos PRO confirms 56 Covid-19 cases among personnel

The Ilocos Police Regional Office (PRO-1) has confirmed 56 cases of Covid-19 among its personnel in the region as of Sept. 6, with 25 active cases, 31 recovered, and no fatalities.

Of the 25 active cases, two have mild symptoms, others are asymptomatic, with one hospitalized, one under home quarantine, and 23 in isolation facilities.

PRO-1 director Brig. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. stated that 856 personnel, or 10 percent of the total 8,631, have undergone RT-PCR testing, with the rest scheduled for swab tests.

The regional police headquarters has been placed under indefinite lockdown starting on Monday to prevent the spread of the virus.

Not all offices in the regional headquarters have positive cases; most of the infected were assigned to the mobile force company and deployed at border checkpoints.

Azurin noted that the police personnel are immuno-compromised due to physical and mental exhaustion, necessitating immediate action to address the health emergency.

The lockdown will be lifted once all personnel at the headquarters are cleared of the coronavirus.