27 more CIW prisoners test positive for COVID-19
Published Apr 25, 2020 12:00 am
By Jonathan Hicap
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has said 27 additional prisoners at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong have tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), bringing the total of infected inmates at the facility to 48.
The 27 new COVID-19 positive inmates from CIW in Mandaluyong arrived today at the quarantine area, named by BuCor as “Site Harry,” at the NBP medium security camp in Muntinlupa. (Photo courtesy of BuCor/ MANILA BULLETIN)
They were transported to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa where a quarantine site has been set up in the medium security camp for all persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who are confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases.
“The said PDLs were received properly by the medical staff of the quarantine facility and were checked by the medical doctor on duty. The PDLs are well and are asymptomatic. Continuous focused medical care and monitoring will be provided to ensure that no PDL will develop severe symptoms,” BuCor said.
The 27 belong to the third batch of CIW prisoners transferred to NBP. The first batch consisting of 18 was taken to the quarantine area on April 21, followed by two more PDLs on April 24.
The NBP quarantine site currently houses 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases from CIW, who were earlier exposed to a 72-year-old CIW prisoner who became BuCor’s first COVID-19 patient and was admitted to the Sta. Ana Hospital. They were taken to NBP after they tested positive for the virus. One BuCor medical staff at CIW also tested positive for COVID-19.
On April 23, BuCor confirmed that a 56-year-old male PDL at the NBP medium-security camp became infected with COVID-19, the first case at the national penitentiary. The patient died on April 23 while confined at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
As of today (April 25), there are 50 COVID-19 positive cases under BuCor: 48 CIW PDLs, one NBP inmate, and one BuCor medical staffer.
The transfer of the CIW prisoners to NBP has been protested and opposed by Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and the city council, saying this was done without their knowledge and approval. The council passed a resolution to back the mayor’s position and opposed the transfer.
Fresnedi was concerned that the transfer may cause an outbreak of COVID-19 among NBP prisoners and employees, and residents living around and near the quarantine site.
BuCor earlier stated that the quarantine site is safe and will not endanger the health of other PDLs and Muntinlupa residents.
Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon also said the transfer is risky as the coronavirus could infect NBP prisoners.
As of April 25, there are 132 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Muntinlupa including 19 deaths and 22 recovered cases, up from 131 positive cases on April 24. There are also 460 probable and 15 suspect cases.
There are 29,173 prisoners at NBP including 19,923 at the maximum-security camp and 8,046 at the medium-security camp as of February. The CIW has 3,422 PDLs in its care.
“The other prison and penal farms in the regions are still considered COVID-19 free at this time,” BuCor said.
The 27 new COVID-19 positive inmates from CIW in Mandaluyong arrived today at the quarantine area, named by BuCor as “Site Harry,” at the NBP medium security camp in Muntinlupa. (Photo courtesy of BuCor/ MANILA BULLETIN)
They were transported to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa where a quarantine site has been set up in the medium security camp for all persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who are confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases.
“The said PDLs were received properly by the medical staff of the quarantine facility and were checked by the medical doctor on duty. The PDLs are well and are asymptomatic. Continuous focused medical care and monitoring will be provided to ensure that no PDL will develop severe symptoms,” BuCor said.
The 27 belong to the third batch of CIW prisoners transferred to NBP. The first batch consisting of 18 was taken to the quarantine area on April 21, followed by two more PDLs on April 24.
The NBP quarantine site currently houses 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases from CIW, who were earlier exposed to a 72-year-old CIW prisoner who became BuCor’s first COVID-19 patient and was admitted to the Sta. Ana Hospital. They were taken to NBP after they tested positive for the virus. One BuCor medical staff at CIW also tested positive for COVID-19.
On April 23, BuCor confirmed that a 56-year-old male PDL at the NBP medium-security camp became infected with COVID-19, the first case at the national penitentiary. The patient died on April 23 while confined at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
As of today (April 25), there are 50 COVID-19 positive cases under BuCor: 48 CIW PDLs, one NBP inmate, and one BuCor medical staffer.
The transfer of the CIW prisoners to NBP has been protested and opposed by Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and the city council, saying this was done without their knowledge and approval. The council passed a resolution to back the mayor’s position and opposed the transfer.
Fresnedi was concerned that the transfer may cause an outbreak of COVID-19 among NBP prisoners and employees, and residents living around and near the quarantine site.
BuCor earlier stated that the quarantine site is safe and will not endanger the health of other PDLs and Muntinlupa residents.
Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon also said the transfer is risky as the coronavirus could infect NBP prisoners.
As of April 25, there are 132 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Muntinlupa including 19 deaths and 22 recovered cases, up from 131 positive cases on April 24. There are also 460 probable and 15 suspect cases.
There are 29,173 prisoners at NBP including 19,923 at the maximum-security camp and 8,046 at the medium-security camp as of February. The CIW has 3,422 PDLs in its care.
“The other prison and penal farms in the regions are still considered COVID-19 free at this time,” BuCor said.