CIW nurses attempt to trace suspected COVID-positive inmates

After recording two deaths, and 47 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive inmates, frontliners at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) are now racing to trace individuals who may have come in contact with the positive cases.

According to Raffy Tima's Friday report on 24 Oras, CIW nurses were working day and night in the contact tracing effort.

"'Yung rounds namin kasi umpisa du'n sa mga walang nararamdaman at saka sa mga na-swab na po. Kasi 'yung mga unang pupuntahan, 'yun po 'yung nakasama sa isang dorm, 'yung nag positive po natin," a nurse said.

Before the virus hit the facility, they were already short on staff with only one doctor and eight nurses. Six nurses take turns at quarantine sites.

There were 12 hours per shift and all the frontliners no longer traveled home to their houses.

"Hindi naga-apply sa amin 'yung seven days na duty, 14 days na off," Supt. Virginia Mangawit, the CIW Superintendent, said.

There were four quarantine areas within the CIW for those who came in contact with the positive cases

Meanwhile, those with symptoms, pending cases, and persons deprived of liberty who have other illnesses were in a separate area.

The 47-positive PDLs were transferred to Site Harry, the bigger quarantine site within the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News