Recovery rate of COVID-19 patients inside jails at 80%: BJMP

September 11, 2020

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology on Friday said the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients inside their jail facilities is 80 percent.

During the Laging Handa virtual briefing, BJMP spokesperson Xavier Solda said from 1, 151 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, they have 175 active cases.

“Nine hundred and eighty already recovered. We have a high recovery rate, almost 80 percent. That’s why our doctors, jail nurses, continue to give 24/7 focused medical care,” Solda said.

“And we are hoping in the coming days, there will be no additional (patients) and we will continue to zero in until all patients fully recover,” he said.

Soida said those who are showing symptoms will be immediately isolated.

“What we did in our jail facilities, we have health monitoring on our PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) especially the vulnerable- those who have pre-medical conditions, senior citizens, we are monitoring them,” he said.

Solda said they also established six Ligtas COVID centers to cater inmates who have COVID-19 like symptoms, mild or asymptomatic.

“For those who have severe symptoms, definitely we will coordinate with the court so that we can bring them to the hospitals,” he added.

In addressing congestion in jail facilities, Solda said they are observing precautionary measures and educating persons deprived of liberty  how to protect themselves.

Solda said their paralegal support service is also coordinating with the courts to fast track the release of vulnerable PDLs.

As of now, BJMP has released 1, 501 inmates where 560 were elderly, 909  sick PDLs and 32 pregnant PDLs.

 Solda did not provide the number of infected jail personnel but he said they have a 65 percent recovery rate.

“We are hoping that they will get well at the soonest time possible. Our advice to them is to observe precautionary measures which are established by the government,” he said.

Solda assured the public, especially families of PDLs that the BJMP is taking care of them amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Ella Dionisio/DMS