Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 4) — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Wednesday announced that visitations to the New Bilibid Prison and the Correctional Institution for Women are suspended until further notice due to COVID-19 infections.
The latest count by the BuCor showed that 57 inmates, including five personnel from NBP, tested positive for COVID-19 following the tests conducted from May 2 to 4. But these reported infections are mild and asymptomatic cases.
Most of the positive cases are from NBP, but they are asymptomatic and mild, the bureau noted.
BuCor assured that it will continue the contact tracing at the maximum security compound to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“Two years na tayong walang kaso ng COVID-19, most likely nahawa ang ating PDLs sa dumalaw sa kanila,” BuCor Health Services Director Ma. Cecilia Villanueva said in a statement.
[Translation: We have not recorded any COVID-19 cases for two years, most likely our PDLs got infected by their visitors.]
BuCor said that more than 99% of inmates are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 94% have at least received their first booster shot.
Following the reported COVID-19 infections, BuCor chief Director General Gregorio Catapang on Thursday issued an order requiring all visitors and other individuals transacting with the bureau to wear face masks and present a latest rapid antigen test result.
The country earlier logged 4,456 COVID-19 cases from April 24 to 30, with a daily average of 637 cases.
