COVID infects 9 more Bacolod cops, 53 PDLS

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Nine more police officers and 53 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in various police stations here were among those infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Police Lieutenant Liberty Indiape, information officer of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said the nine new cases among the BCPO personnel were recorded yesterday, bringing the total to 58 cases as of April 30, 2021.

This prompted the BCPO to strictly implement a “No BacTrac, No Entry” policy at the headquarters starting May 3, 2021, as a measure against the pandemic.

Indiape said the new cases affected two personnel each of Police Stations 2, 5, and 9; and three others of Police Station 3.

Most of the COVID-infected personnel were asymptomatic while others manifested mild symptoms.

Indiape said that surveillance testing is ongoing among the other members of the city police force.

For the safety of the clients, police stations minimize the entry of civilians while they also conduct continuous disinfection of the building, she added.

Meanwhile, aside from the law enforcers, about 53 PDLs committed by police to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) here also tested positive for COVID-19.

City Administrator Em Ang, said these PDLs underwent swab testing last week, and were not mixed with the other PDLs at the BJMP as they were required to undergo 21-day mandatory isolation at the BJMP’s isolation facility before their transfer.