A POLICE officer assigned at Police Station 3 Agora, Cagayan de Oro City has tested positive for the coronavirus, making him the first policeman to contract the virus this year, Cagayan de Oro Police Office (Cocpo) Spokesperson Major Evan Viñas reported Friday, January 15, 2021.

The 40-year-old policeman, a resident of Barangay Carmen, is a police staff master sergeant who works in a mobile patrol group, Viñas said.

According to City Epidemiologist Dr. Joselito Retuya, the police officer stayed in his house during his day off on January 4 and started working the night shift from January 5 to 6.

He was off-duty on January 7 and worked as part of the security personnel during the Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 8 to 9. He was off-duty again on January 10 and worked in the mobile patrol group on January 11 and 12.

The 40-year-old policeman experienced fever, chills and sore throat on January 13. On the morning of January 14, he went to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center for consultation. He was swabbed and tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

He was brought to the Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility on Thursday, January 14. The City Health Office identified three direct contacts of the policeman.

At present, Cocpo has recorded a total of 33 Covid-positive police officers. Viñas said all of the policemen who tested positive for the virus in 2020 have already recovered and went back to work.