TWENTY-ONE detainees in various jails under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) have been isolated amid the threat of the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

BJMP spokesperson Xavier Solda said on Monday, April 13, the they were awaiting the result of the diagnostic test conducted on the 21 persons deprived of liberty.

"Mayroon po tayong mga binabantayan... mayroon po tayong 21 na nasa isolation, napa-swab na po natin sila, inaantay na lang po natin ang resulta," he said.

For now, he said BJMP facilities remain Covid-19 free.

Solda noted that the BJMP was quick to impose a lockdown in all detention facilities in the country to prevent or stop the spread of the Covid-19 among the PDLs.

However, a BJMP paralegal officer tested positive for the disease last month.

Solda said the agency has conducted contact tracing to avoid the spread of the virus among their personnel while some of them were already on a work from home status in accordance with the enhanced community quarantine. (SunStar Philippines)