Philippines to Send Cops House-to-House to Find COVID-19 Cases as Manila Starts Drive-Thru Testing

Filipino authorities are expanding drive-thru testing for COVID-19 and are now promising that law enforcement will conduct house-to-house probes for patients as the country responds to rising infections since a lockdown was eased on June 1.

As of July 15, the country had recorded at least 58,850 cases and 1,614 deaths, according to government data. Cases have more than tripled since June 1, when authorities eased a shutdown in the capital, Manila. On July 15, officials reported 1,392 new coronavirus cases, as well as 11 additional deaths tied to the virus.

This drone footage was taken at testing areas in Manila, and posted on the official Facebook account of Manila City’s Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso.

The use of police was announced on July 14 by Interior Minister Eduardo Año. The minister said the positive patients would be taken from their homes and brought to isolation centers. If they refused to cooperate, they could be imprisoned, he added. Credit: Isko Moreno Domagoso via Storyful