FORTY-NINE persons deprived of liberty (PDL) or inmates and six personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Negros Occidental have been infected with the Covid-19 virus.
Jail Chief Inspector Jairus Anthony Dogelio, spokesperson for BJMP-Western Visayas, said the 49 infected inmates were from various district jails in Negros Occidental. He also confirmed six BJMP personnel in the province who were also infected, although three were recovering.
Dogelio said 25 of the 49 PDLs were already finishing their 14-day quarantine and will soon undergo another round of swab testing to confirm if they are no longer infected with the virus.
The BJMP spokesperson said the PDLs who have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus are extracted from their respective district jails and brought to the Talisay Ligtas Covid Center for treatment. Those who are negative following their swab tests are transported to the Handumanan isolation facility.
Once the 14-day quarantine is completed, Dogelio said PDLs are returned to their jail of origin, although they will again be placed on quarantine prior to release to the jail's general population.
All 49 PDLs were noted to be asymptomatic.
Due to the number of infections they have recorded, Dogelio said they have informed all the district jails in the region to start constructing their isolation rooms.
The personnel was also reminded to strengthen their security measures in order for jail facilities in the region to remain Covid-19 free.