80 young detainees Covid-19 positive
AT least 95 people, mostly “children in conflict with the law (CICL),” and staff of Bahay Tanglaw Pag-asa (BTP) in Bulacan recently tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) after allegedly contracting the disease from an employee of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).
According to Dr. Hjordis Marushka Celis, provincial health officer II and chief of Bulacan Medical Center, among those infected with the virus were 80 youth inmates or CICL, nine PSWDO workers and six jail guards.
It was learned that the juvenile reformation and correctional facility known as Bahay Tanglaw Pagasa located in Barangay Guinhawa in the provincial capital of Malolos City has been placed in a hard lockdown since the young detainees and staff tested positive for Covid-19.
They were found to be infected by a PSWDO staff member who first tested positive on March 26.
Contact-tracing showed this employee attended a birthday party where the celebrator had also tested positive for the virus.
According to a report, the youth offenders developed symptoms of cough and fever one after another until the PSWDO staff and the jail guards were also infected.
According to Celis, the 14-day quarantine was already completed but they decided to extend it for another seven days.
The Bahay Tanglaw Pag-asa is under the supervision of the PSWDO.
At present, there are at least 100 CICL detained there who have cases ranging from rape, robbery and violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Their age ranges from 13 to 26.
Meanwhile, Gov. Daniel Fernando urged Bulakenyos to fight the spread of misinformation in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a recent meeting of the Provincial Task Force vs Covid-19, Fernando said false information was causing confusion, fear and anger among the people of the province.
According to the governor, Bulacan’s recovery rate remains high at 78 percent (15,891 recoveries out of 20,139 affected by the virus in the province).
A total of 3,707 are active cases and there have been 541 deaths.
Fernando urged the Bulakenyos to unite and abide by the guidelines implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases that he said are most effective against Covid-19.