INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año yesterday became the latest top government official to catch COVID-19 and undergo quarantine.

The DILG chief confirmed his latest bout with the virus even as the Philippine National Police Health Service reported that 537 more police personnel including PNP spokesperson, Colonel Roderick Augustus B. Alba were the latest in their organization to have been afflicted by the disease.

“After several of my close contacts had tested positive, last night I also received a positive COVID-19 RT-PCR test result. Thankfully, I remain asymptomatic as of now. I will continue to work while I’m isolated. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated and boostered as soon as possible, and to continue following health protocols,” said Sec. Año.

Alba, on the other hand, tested positive for the virus on Monday and is set to undergo quarantine at the Kiangan Emergency Treatment Facility in Camp Crame.

“I am now focusing on my immediate recovery,” said the official who confirmed having developed symptoms of the virus including flu, dry cough, runny nose and body pains.

PNP chief General Dionardo B. Carlos, who already has been released from the hospital after catching the virus last week, earlier assured the public that the rise in the number of COVID-19 affected police personnel won’t hamper their peacekeeping duties.

He made the statement amid the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the 225,000-strong force.

Yesterday, the PNP Health Service headed by Brigadier Gen. Antonino R. Cirujales said they have recorded 537 new cases.

On Monday, the unit recorded 436 new COVID-19 cases in the organization.

Since March last year, a total of 43,992 police personnel have contracted the disease although 41,455 of them have already fully recovered and are now back to full duty status.

The PNP-HS at present is monitoring a total of 2,412 “active cases” in the organization which has suffered 125 deaths as a result of the pandemic since last year. “Thankfully, many of the covid cases among our police personnel developed mild symptoms which will only need home or facility isolation,” Gen. Carlos said.

The number of daily cases in the PNP reflects the increasing figures in the national level although the PNP chief assured the citizenry that the performance of their duties will not be affected.

“We have our deployment strategy that in case a member of the police unit will be isolated, those who are not in contact with him/her will take over. Of course, swab testing is a regular thing for us,” the top cop said.

According to the PNP chief, the work continues also for those who are asymptomatic and can still manage to discharge their function even at home or inside a facility.

Police for the first time are also enforcing a nationwide gun ban under the new normal prompting Gen. Carlos ordered his men to fully exercise caution in dealing with the public and strictly comply with minimum public health safety protocols, specifically the mandatory wearing of face masks at all times and frequent washing of hands.

The growing cases have turned the Kiangan Emergency Treatment Facility and the Provident facility busy again after having “zero patient” during the Christmas season.

Brig. Gen. Cirujales said they recorded 10 new recoveries last Sunday and five on Monday.

An asymptomatic Gen.. Carlos on the other hand is already on his way to full recovery, officials said.

The top cop confirmed he tested positive for suspected Omicron variant of COVID-19 and is undergoing quarantine along with his driver and aide.

Gen. Carlos urged his men to get their booster jabs.

The PNP chief said that only 1,396 or 0.62 percent of the total number of PNP personnel are yet to be vaccinated for one reason or another while a majority or 95.81 percent or 215,886 of the entire force are fully vaccinated. Another 8,051 or 3.67 percent are still awaiting their final dose. With Joel dela Torre