30 suspected COVID-19 cases at women's correctional -BuCor

Thirty detainees at the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City are suspected of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, the chief of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said Wednesday.

"Meron tayong 30 PDL (persons deprived of liberty) suspects sa CIW, nasa classification ngayon na Suspect B," BuCor director general Undersecretary Gerald Bantag said in an interview with Dobol B sa News TV.

According to Bantag, the said detainees were considered as "Suspect B" as they have no contact with anyone infected with COVID-19.

Meanwhile, a personnel at the New Bilibid Prison is also suspected of COVID-19 infection, Bantag said. The person is considered "Suspect A" for having contact with an infected individual but is already on self-quarantine.

Bantag said the visitation at BuCor facilities are already suspended to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in these areas.

"Magre-resume ang dalaw kapag may guidance na sa gobyerno," he said.

Bantag added that he also came out with a guidance on Wednesday strictly prohibiting delivery of goods and other items, including medicines, to detainees.

Ngayong araw na ito, nagkaroon ako ng panibagong guidance na strictly implement yung walang paabot na dahil dumarami na ang infected sa labas para definitely ma-contain natin ang spread. Minabuti namin na i-suspend na rin ang paabot," he said.

"Meron tayong medical team, may doctors tayo at may mga gamot naman sila doon," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte's third weekly report to Congress stated that there 74 detainees in BuCor facilities considered as persons under monitoring (PUM)and two others as persons under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19 infection.

Apart from them, 80 BuCor personnel are considered PUMs, while another one is considered PUI on top of those suspected of contracting the virus among detainees.

The report said the PUMs and PUIs are already being monitored for symptoms and have been isolated in designated quarantine areas in various BuCor facilities away from the rest of the prison population.

As of Wednesday, there are a total of 5,453 cases of COVID-19 reported in the Philippines, with 349 deaths and 353 recoveries. -Erwin Colcol/NB, GMA News