THERE are already three confirmed cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in the Philippine National Police (PNP), officials said Friday.

According to PNP spokesman, Brigadier General Ronaldo E. Olay, the three tested positive for COVID-19 last July and had already finished their 14-day isolation when they were discovered anew to be positive for the Delta variant.

However, Administrative Support for Joint COVID-19 Task Force commander, PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Lieutenant Gen. Joselito M. Vera Cruz said that the results of the genome sequencing of the three were released only this month.

Thus, the three who are all assigned at the PNP Aviation Security Group were ordered to undergo another RT-PCR test.

One of the three tested anew for the virus and has been admitted in a government quarantine facility while the 2nd tested negative for the disease but was asked to go on home quarantine.

The result of the test conducted on the 3rd policemen is yet to be released. However, he is also under home quarantine already.

Lt. Gen. Vera Cruz said that persons who are considered ‘close contacts’ of the three have already tested negative for the virus.

4 Carmelite nuns succumb to COVID-19

Meanwhile, four Carmelite nuns from the Carmelite Order Monastery in La Paz district, Iloilo City have died due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Rev. Fr. Angelo Colada, Archdiocese of Jaro Social Communications director, said the Carmelite sisters who passed away were among the 33 who tested positive for the virus, consisting of 24 nuns and nine monastery staff.

“So out of 24, nine of their personnel who tested positive, seven were taken to the hospital because they showed symptoms but four of them died,” he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas on Friday.

It was reported that 45 residents of the monastery underwent swab testing on July 24 after having close contact with another nun who had previously tested positive for the virus.

The positive results of the 33 residents prompted the Iloilo city government to order the lockdown of the entire monastery on July 25.

Colada added that the other nuns and staff who tested positive are still recovering, while those who tested negative for COVID-19 are still under mandatory quarantine for close monitoring.

Iloilo City is currently under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until August 15. With Philippine News Agency