By Jonathan Hicap The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has announced that 19 people consisting of 18 prisoners and one medical staff at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Temperature check being done on CIW prisoners. (Photo courtesy of CIW PIO / MANILA BULLETIN) Last April 18, the BuCor said that a 72-year-old prisoner, who had pneumonia, was admitted at the Sta. Ana Hospital and tested positive for COVID-19, the BuCor’s first ever recorded positive case among its prisoners. This prompted the bureau to immediately do contact tracing of all people who were exposed to the patient. Corrections Superintendent Virginia Mangawit reported to BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag that 42 prisoners and nine BuCor medical staff underwent testing done by the Philippine Red Cross and out of 51, 19 came out positive for COVID-19. “Those who tested positive were reported to have mild symptoms and some are asymptomatic. They are now being monitored and given vitamins, medicines, and food supplements to strengthen their immune system,” the BuCor said. The CIW isolated those who were exposed to the positive patient in quarantine areas inside the facility. More tests will be done on persons who are suspected to be infected by the virus. According to the CIW administration, they need “more vitamins for PDLs, food supplements that boost the immune system, beds, and big tents.” As of February 2020, the CIW has 3,422 prisoners and 124 corrections officers.