Male inmate positive for COVID-19: BuCor

April 23, 2020

A male inmate from New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Medium Securiy Compound  tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

In a statement Thursday, BuCor said they received confirmation from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) that the result of the inmate who was hospitalized last April 17 was positive.

“COVID-19 test performed (and it) turned out positive. The patient is still confined at the RITM as of today,” it said.

BuCor confirmed he is the first PDL from the NBP to be tested positive for the virus.

As a precaution, the NBP conducted contact tracing on the day the inmate was hospitalized.

As a result, forty persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were put in isolated areas. Upon confirmation, the inmates were transferred to a bigger facility called "Site Harry" while awaiting for their results.

“(The) medical staff who attended to the PDL patient is also considered as suspects and are now under quarantine,” it said.

 BuCor medical personnel are  providing focused medical care to all suspect PDLs and to those found positive.

“NBP management in particular has calibrated its response and is continually assessing its implementation of operational plans,” it added.

Last April 21, BuCor said 18 PDLs from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City and one of their staff were tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Ella Dionisio/DMS