No more active COVID-19 cases in Philippine jails

MANILA, Philippines — There are no more active COVID-19 cases in detention facilities nationwide, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) reported yesterday.

BJMP spokesman Chief Inspector Xavier Solda said zero new COVID cases were recorded among inmates and jail personnel.

“We are hoping na magtuloy-tuloy na ito,” he said.

Solda attributed the zero active cases in jails to the strict implementation of COVID-19 protocols such as the immediate isolation of those who manifested symptoms of the virus and intensified vaccination drive.

He said 119,476 inmates or 95.13 percent of those under BJMP’s care have been inoculated againt COVID.

Solda said they would continue to implement minimum health protocols in jails even as no case has been recorded.

Up to 4,762 inmates have contracted the virus since last year, of whom 50 have died.

Solda had earlier said they would allow non-contact visitations in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2 but with strict enforcement of health protocols.

He said visits should be scheduled to prevent crowding while visitors should present their vaccination cards and undergo health screening.

PNP COVID cases drop to 36

Meanwhile, the number of active COVID cases in the Philippine National Police  (PNP) is down to 36, data released yesterday showed.

The PNP recorded seven new cases yesterday.

At least 42,221 PNP members have contracted the virus since last year, 42,060 or 99.61 percent of whom have recovered.

A total of 212,545 police personnel have been fully vaccinated while 11,347 are waiting for their second dose.

The PNP said only 1,700 of its personnel remain unvaccinated.