Manila cop tests positive for COVID-19
By Minka Tiangco
A police officer of the Manila Police District (MPD) tested positive for the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).
MPD Public Information Chief Carlo Manuel said the patrolman is a resident of the city and is assigned at a police station.
The police officer was placed under a 14-day home quarantine after experiencing mild symptoms such as sore throat, Manuel said.
The cop became a person under investigation after undergoing swabbing at St. Luke’s Medical Center on March 17.
The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) released the police officer’s positive result on Monday.
Manuel said the patrolman may have been infected due to heavy exposure in the field.
The MPD PIO chief said they are now conducting contact tracing and will place personnel who had contact with the cop under quarantine until March 28.
On Tuesday, the number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines exceeded 500. The Department of Health also reported 33 deaths and 19 recovered patients.
