By Jonathan Hicap
The first person deprived of liberty (PDL) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa who tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has died, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) announced tonight (April 24).
The New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa. (Jonathan Hicap/MANILA BULLETIN)
BuCor said the 56-year-old male patient died April 23 while confined at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang.
The PDL, from the NBP medium security camp, was checked at the NBP Hospital on April 17 and admitted to the RITM on the same day.
“Today, official report reached this office that the said PDL patient expired on the evening of 23 April 2020. Official notification to the next of kin of the PDL was done and the NBP Hospital staff had coordinated with RITM for proper disposition of the patient's remains,” BuCor said.
When the PDL was found to be positive for COVID-19, 40 inmates who had contact with him were isolated at the NBP medium security camp quarantine area and BuCor said they are “asymptomatic as of this time. Proper health monitoring is being given to improve their stamina and increase their chance of surviving the disease.”
“BuCor is assuring the public that all courses of actions needed to contain the spread of the virus is strictly enforced and followed. It is implementing rigorous infection control protocols and continuously adjusting its response to protect the larger PDL population,” the bureau added.
As of April 24, there are 22 COVID-19-positive prisoners under BuCor: one from NBP, 21 from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW), and one CIW medical staff.
The 18 positive CIW prisoners were transferred to NBP on April 21, and BuCor said today that the two additional confirmed patients would also be placed in the quarantine area.
The New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa. (Jonathan Hicap/MANILA BULLETIN)
BuCor said the 56-year-old male patient died April 23 while confined at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang.
The PDL, from the NBP medium security camp, was checked at the NBP Hospital on April 17 and admitted to the RITM on the same day.
“Today, official report reached this office that the said PDL patient expired on the evening of 23 April 2020. Official notification to the next of kin of the PDL was done and the NBP Hospital staff had coordinated with RITM for proper disposition of the patient's remains,” BuCor said.
When the PDL was found to be positive for COVID-19, 40 inmates who had contact with him were isolated at the NBP medium security camp quarantine area and BuCor said they are “asymptomatic as of this time. Proper health monitoring is being given to improve their stamina and increase their chance of surviving the disease.”
“BuCor is assuring the public that all courses of actions needed to contain the spread of the virus is strictly enforced and followed. It is implementing rigorous infection control protocols and continuously adjusting its response to protect the larger PDL population,” the bureau added.
As of April 24, there are 22 COVID-19-positive prisoners under BuCor: one from NBP, 21 from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW), and one CIW medical staff.
The 18 positive CIW prisoners were transferred to NBP on April 21, and BuCor said today that the two additional confirmed patients would also be placed in the quarantine area.