BAGUIO CITY – The Philippine National Police (PNP) Cordillera Administrative Region Training Center (CARTC) at Teacher’s Camp here is again on lockdown after more police trainees were found positive for COVID-19.
On Sunday, July 11, Mayor Benjamin Magalong here requested Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar to suspend PNP trainings in this city after more trainees turned positive for COVID. According to Magalong, Eleazar immediately approved his request.
"It appears that our trainees are not compliant with the minimum public health standards. The lockdown will be indefinite at the moment, until they learn their lesson,” Magalong said, emphasizing the need to adhere to health protocols.
The City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU) reported that 26 more trainees tested positive for COVID-19 from June 28 to July 11.
Last month, 104 cases were recorded at the CARTC among the 197 regular officers from various regions who underwent leadership training there.
The outbreak was immediately controlled with the imposition of testing, contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine measures.
Magalong also ordered the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) to implement stricter border control to prevent untested travelers and those not willing to be tested from getting inside and staying in the city, including police trainees from other regions.
Police Col. Glenn Lonogan, BCPO director, warned violators of the city’s existing entry protocols that appropriate charges will be filed against them once they are caught entering the city without the appropriate travel documents and registration.
A registration platform has been established to ensure that individuals infected with COVID-19 do not spread the disease in the country’s summer capital.