Thirty-six persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa have tested positive for the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after undergoing rapid tests, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) disclosed on Friday, Oct. 16.
The BuCor assured in a statement that the 36 PDLs have been brought to the COVID-19 isolation facility called Site Harry at the NBP.
Aside from this, the 36 PDLs underwent confirmatory reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests to determine if they indeed have COVID-19.
“If results of the confirmatory test is released, those who are positive for the Covid 19 virus will remain at Site Harry until recovery,” the BuCor said.
“The rest who test negative go back to their cells,” it added.
The BuCor noted that said RT-PCR tests were conducted by the BuCor Medical Team and supervised by the Department of Health (DOH).
The 36 PDLs were among 200 inmates at the NBP’s Maximum Security Compound who underwent COVID-19 rapid tests last Oct. 13.
“BuCor's continuous conduct of rapid test and swab test (RT-PCR) among its PDL is proven to be effective as can be seen in the Bureau's present covid tally showing low infection rate, low number of active cases and high recovery rate,” the bureau said.