By Chito Chavez
In a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has suspended visits beginning at noon on Wednesday in the 42 jail facilities manned by the agency in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (MANILA BULLETIN)
“I can confirm that the jail visitation in 42 jails of the National Capital Region has already been suspended starting 12 noon today,” BJMP Spokesperson Chief Inspector Xavier Solda said, as the BJMP followed the similar order of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
Last Tuesday, BuCor also suspended jail visits to its facilities for a week to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines had risen to 33 as of Tuesday.
On Monday, President Duterte met the 17 Metro Manila mayors and discussed precautionary measures to combat COVID-19.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said the 17 Metro Manila mayors agreed to help each other with contact tracing, or the tracking down of individuals who had close contact with people infected with COVID-19.
Duterte recently declared a public health state of emergency following the rising number of COVID-19 cases, and ordered the suspension of all classes in Metro Manila from March 10 to March 14.
Read more: BuCor bars visitors due to COVID-19 threat, Manila City Jail suspends visitations, opens video calls to inmates