After their second antigen tests, 40 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who had earlier been found Covid-19 infected at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City are now cleared of the virus, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said on Sunday, May 7.
Also, BuCor said that three of seven NBP personnel who were earlier infected are now cleared after their second antigen tests.
Those still infected have been placed in isolation wards at the NBP, while personnel still found positive have been advised to isolate in their respective homes after having been given medical prescriptions.
Dr. Ma. Cecilia V. Villanueva, director of BuCor’s Directorate for Health Services, said only one of the 41 PDLs who underwent second antigen tests was found still positive for Covid infection.
Earlier, the bureau had said that 75 PDLs and seven personnel at the NBP had been found infected.
Villanueva had said that Covid infections were most likely transmitted by the PDLs’ visitors.
She said that so far, there has been no report of Covid-19 infection in other prison facilities of BuCor.
BuCor had suspended the visitation privileges of PDLs at the NBP and at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City.
Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. has issued a memorandum that required all visitors and individuals transacting at all BuCor offices at the national headquarters in Muntinlupa City to wear facemask and present latest rapid antigen test.