Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 27) — There are now nearly 200 cases of coronavirus in Bureau of Corrections facilities, according to a tally released Wednesday by the Department of Justice.
Of the 194 cases, six have died and 11 have recovered. All those who have died because of the virus were prisoners.
Most of the confirmed cases in BuCor facilities are also prisoners, accounting for 161 cases in the facilities, while 32 others are BuCor personnel.
There are still 99 suspected COVID-19 cases and 36 probable cases among prisoners. Among the personnel, there are four suspect cases and 79 probable cases.
Twelve suspected cases, 71 confirmed COVID-19 patients who are prisoners and a coronavirus-positive personnel are now in an isolation center.
President Rodrigo Duterte said in his ninth weekly report to Congress on his administration’s response to the pandemic that a total of 517 prisoners in 10 different jails have been infected with the coronavirus.
Aside from the confirmed cases, Duterte also mentioned that the BJMP has also identified 703 suspected cases and 86 probable cases of the viral disease.
He added that the BJMP has intensified contact tracing in jails that have confirmed COVID-19 cases, though he did not say which facilities are affected.
He also said that in Cebu City jails, the BJMP has gathered swab samples of prisoners and personnel, established isolation centers and intensified contact tracing. It is unclear whether the same measures have been implemented elsewhere.
Various jail facilities across the country have been reporting cases of COVID-19 amid calls to decongest prisons to curb the spread of the disease inside the cells.
The government has made moves to decongest prisons in light of the pandemic, easing rules on the grant of parole and executive clemency.
So far, Duterte said 144 prisoners have been granted parole and 653 more have pending applications for parole or executive clemency.
CNN Philippines’ Anjo Alimario and Xave Gregorio contributed to this report.
