BJMP personnel tested positive for COVID-19, spokesman says

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) on Monday said one of its personnel has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

According to BJMP spokesman Xavier Solda, the personnel who tested positive was a female paralegal officer assigned at Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory. He added that the employee was already on work from home status since March 21.

"This set up is allowed since she is a paralegal officer and her job is basically to monitor cases of PDL (persons deprived of liberty) before the court," Solda said in a statement.

"Aside from the nature of her work, she was allowed to work at home during the jail lockdown because she has a pre-medical condition. She has asthma, hypertension, and diabetes," he added.

Solda said the personnel is now under strict quarantine. He said the BJMP is extending assistance to the employee.

He said the BJMP already started contact tracing to determine who are those who had contact with the paralegal officer.

Solda, meanwhile, advised every BJMP personnel to remain vigilant and follow the guidelines of the government on the enhanced community quarantine.

"Sumunod kayo sa mga direktiba ng pamahalaan at sa mga advisories na ipinalalabas ng ating ahensiya upang maprotektahan kayo, ang mga PDL na nasa ating pangangalaga, pati na ang ating mga pasilidad," he said.

"We assure the public that we are doing our best, doubling our efforts in implementing all of our precautionary measures to protect our facilities from the virus," Solda added. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News