PNP death toll due to COVID-19 now at 66

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said the total number of deaths among the organization due to COVID-19 is now at 66.

In a statement, PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said the latest fatality was a 52-year old police captain assigned in Zamboanga City.

The cop tested positive for COVID-19 on May 1 and was brought to a hospital.  On May 18, he was transferred to the intensive care unit and intubated when he experienced difficulty of breathing.

After 29 days of fighting the disease, he succumbed on Sunday, according to the PNP.

Eleazar expressed his sorrow that more PNP personnel are dying every day, while reminding policemen to take precautions against COVID-19.

He assured that assistance will be given to infected PNP personnel.

As of Monday, the PNP Health Service recorded a total of 23, 983 COVID-19 cases among the organization with 116 new infections.

At least 22,067 have already recovered from the disease while 1, 850 are still active cases. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News