Several police personnel of Police Station 6 in Cebu City have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Central Visayas police regional director Ignatius Ferro said Tuesday.

Sixteen are regular police officers, 3 are non-uniformed personnel, and 2 are "errand boys" in the station. They have been brought for isolation at the Don Vicente Rama National High School.

Ferro said the outbreak likely started when two illegal drug suspects under their custody were transferred to the Cebu City jail. The two inmates later tested positive for COVID-19 on May 4.

Upon contact tracing by the Cebu City health department, all personnel in the police station were swabbed and 21 tested positive.

"It was not really good news," said Ferro.

The remaining 38 personnel of Police Station 6 are now under quarantine inside the station. They are not allowed to return to their homes.

Police Colonel Josefino Ligan, director of the Cebu City police office, said that half of them report for duty for 12 hours and take their rest for another 12 hours in the isolation center.

"Three units are also involved in contact tracing for those who tested positive," Ligan added.

Since contact with the personnel is not allowed, they have set up a virtual police station in the nearby church just right outside the station.

"We have personnel from the region to man this," Ferro said.