Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 24) — A senior military officer and a Manila-based policeman have tested positive for COVID-19, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Manila Police District separately confirmed Tuesday.
The military official’s wife also tested positive for the viral disease, the AFP said. It added that the officer had traveled abroad before they were admitted at the AFP Medical Center on March 15.
“No big deal,” Santos said. “Just [following] a protocol.”
It is not clear if the policeman, the military officer and his wife are already part of the 501 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the country, a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The military assured they have implemented measures to protect personnel stationed and working at its headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, including the temporary closure of the Commissioned Officers’ Club House, Camp Aguinaldo Golf Course and the AFP Finance Center.
The AFP said the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel has issued guidelines on working from home for civilian employees, while military personnel must remain inside the camp to ensure that other security operations are unaffected.
The military added that it is working on creating a treatment facility within the camp which would only cater AFP personnel who show COVID-19 symptoms.
In the Philippines, 33 have died due to COVID-19 and 19 have recovered.
CNN Philippines’ David Santos and Currie Cator contributed to this report.
“They have been undergoing proper medical management with the military officer now being asymptomatic. They will continue medical treatment until fully recovered and strictly following DOH imposed protocol for COVID-19 patients,” the AFP said.
AFP Chief-of-Staff Felimon Santos Jr., other senior officials and their staff are now on home quarantine until Friday after interacting with the senior military official who contracted the viral disease.
The policeman, meanwhile, is a patrolman who got tested for COVID-19 at St. Luke’s Medical Center last March 17, the Manila Police District said. The police district is now tracing those who may have come in contact with the policeman, who is on home quarantine until March 28.
A policeman from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Manila earlier died due to COVID-19, leaving CIDG personnel based in the city under quarantine at the Manila Police District Health Service.
