MANILA, Philippines — A total of 17 Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) personnel who tested positive for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been moved to a quarantine facility in Capas, Tarlac.
They were staying at Site Harry, the BuCor’s quarantine facility inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) medium security compound in Muntinlupa City, before their transfer.
The 17 personnel whose original assignments were at the NBP and Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City, were brought to the government isolation facility in New Clark City (NCC) on May 22, the BuCor said in a belated report.
The NCC is among the seven mega community quarantine facilities built by the national government for COVID-19 patients with mild or no symptoms.
“These BuCor staff are on their way to full recovery as they are well attended [to] by medical staff who are constantly checking on their health. The facility has Wi-Fi and they are allowed to use mobile phones mainly to stay in touch with their families,” the BuCor said.
193 confirmed cases In its last report on May 25, the bureau recorded 193 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the seven prisons and penal colonies under its supervision. Of the total, 161 were prisoners, or persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), and 32 were BuCor personnel.
The NBP has reported 109 confirmed COVID-19 cases consisting of 82 PDLs and 27 BuCor personnel while the CIW has 84 confirmed cases, with 79 PDLs and five personnel.
For suspect cases, the BuCor has 103, mostly from the NBP. Of the total, 84 are PDLs while 15 are its personnel. The CIW has four suspect cases.
While no confirmed case of COVID-19 has been reported at the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City, 15 PDLs there are considered suspect cases.