2 CIW inmates succumbs to COVID

MANILA, Philippines — Two inmates of the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong have died of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) announced on Tuesday night.

A 72-year-old inmate died on Monday after she was confined in a hospital in Manila on April 13 for manifesting symptoms of pneumonia, according to the BuCor.

She was reported to be the first COVID-19 case at the CIW.

The CIW isolated the inmates who had contact with the patient.

The second inmate died on April 21 at the East Avenue Medical Center due to sepsis, lupus and pneumonia secondary to COVID-19.

At least 27 inmates at the correctional facility have contracted the virus, the BuCor said.

A medical staff of CIW also tested positive for COVID-19.

At least 700 elderly inmates have asked President Duterte to grant them executive clemency, saying they are susceptible to the virus.

The government is speeding up the process of releasing the inmates who are qualified for parole to decongest the crowded jails, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

The first case of COVID-19 at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa died of the disease last week.

The BuCor said 50 inmates have tested positive for the virus with three deaths.

BI frontliners test negative

Meanwhile, more than 300 employees of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have tested negative for COVID-19.

In a report to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, BI medical section chief Marites Ambray said they conducted the tests to ensure the safety of employees vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.

Morente said 206 frontliners at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and 150 others at the BI central office in Intramuros, Manila underwent rapid testing.

“They all tested negative for the virus,” Morente said.

BI port operations division chief Grifton Medina said they prioritized frontline personnel and those with medical conditions.

Medina said they have requested for another batch of testing kits to test more BI employees.

San Juan COVID cases decreasing

San Juan City sees a slower rate of COVID-19 transmission among its residents, Mayor Francis Zamora said yesterday.

“The enhanced community quarantine has been effective in reducing cases of COVID-19 in the city,” Zamora said.

San Juan has not recorded a single death related to COVID-19 since April 20, he said. – With Rudy Santos, Robertzon Ramirez, Neil Jayson Servallos, Christina Mendez

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