75 COVID-19 positive NBP inmates still in isolation

MANILA, Philippines — Seventy-five New Bilibid Prison (NBP) inmates remain in isolation after getting infected with COVID-19, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) reported yesterday.

It said that the number of NBP personnel who contracted the virus rose to seven after two of them tested positive yesterday.

Dr. Maria Cecilia Villanueva, who heads the BuCor health and welfare services, said the prisoners, 15 of whom are senior citizens, are experiencing mild symptoms.

She said 13 were discharged from the isolation ward yesterday morning after they tested negative on their second rapid antigen test. Two other inmates were brought to a different ward due to other medical conditions.

Villanueva noted that there were no other COVID cases reported in the other BuCor prison and penal farms in other parts of the country.

The infected NBP personnel, according to her, are on home quarantine.

The BuCor earlier suspended until May 21 the visitation privileges at the NBP due to a spike in COVID cases.