Eighteen guards and inmates at a jam-packed Philippine prison have tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Friday, heightening fears of a rapid spread of the illness inside the country's j
Eighteen guards and inmates at a jam-packed Philippine prison have tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Friday, heightening fears of a rapid spread of the illness inside the country's jails.
The outbreak has fuelled calls from rights groups for the early release of prisoners charged with non-violent offences as well as the sick and elderly in an effort to ease congestion and lower the risk of transmission. Social distancing is all but impossible in the prison system, where cells sometimes operate at five times' capacity.
Nine inmates and nine prison staff tested positive for the virus, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology spokesman Xavier Solda told reporters."We are still in the process of intensive contact tracing," he added.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
18 Quezon City jail inmates, personnel test positive for coronavirus(3rd UPDATE) Jails are some of the most vulnerable areas in this pandemic
Read more »
9 inmates in Quezon City jail, 9 BJMP personnel contract COVID-19Nine detainees at the Quezon City jail and nine staff of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology have tested positive for coronavirus disease, the agency's spokesperson said Friday.
Read more »
DOH: COVID-19 cases in Quezon City rise to 996
Read more »
Quezon City reports latest COVID-19 tally, testing, other initiatives under ECQThe number of COVID-19 cases in Quezon City has reached 982, up by 41 from the previous 941 based on Department of Health (DOH) data as of 7 p.m. of April 15.
Read more »
DOH: COVID-19 cases in Quezon City now at 982
Read more »
Quezon City’s COVID-19 cases near 1,000As of 7 p.m. of April 16, the tally of COVID-19 cases in Quezon City (QC) inched closer to the 1,000 mark as 996 were reported by the Department of Health (DOH), up by 14 from the previous figure of 982.
Read more »