Over 400 Cebu City Jail Inmates Recover from COVID-19

A total of 427 inmates from Cebu City Jail that tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) have recovered from the virus.

The City jail also has not reported any new case for over a month now.

Cebu City Jail Warden Julius Aro attributes the control in the further spread of the disease to the early detection, isolation, and treatment of those infected with the virus.

The last recorded case of COVID-19 in the city jail was on June 12, 2020.

“Almost 400 to ang amuang mga confirmed cases of COVID diri sa Cebu City Jail. So, after the period of two weeks or 21 days, na declare na sila sa DOH na clinically recovered,” Aro added.

The Cebu City Government also provided ample help with equipment donations, measure, and interventions in the recovery of the inmates.

“The donations like alcohol, PPE, and other items that the City gave was a big help to us in addressing the problem. Dako usab ang natabang sa early monitoring sa cases sa city jail through the City Government. Dako sad og tabang ang pagpagawas og EO ni Mayor Labella nga ipa test ang mga incoming and outgoing PDL sa jail facility,” Aro added.

Mayor Edgar Labella issued Executive Order No. 71 on April 27, 2020, which requires all persons deprived of liberty (PDL) to undergo COVID-19 testing before being admitted into or released from Cebu City Jail.

On April 19, 2020, Cebu City Jail reported its first COVID-19 case—A 41-year-old inmate also diagnosed with tuberculosis, who died shortly after being transferred to a hospital.

Mayor Labella then immediately instructed City Health officers and doctors to conduct mass testing and contact tracing of inmates and jail personnel. More than 300 tested positive in just two weeks.

Inmates that tested positive for COVID-19 were immediately transferred to the jail’s new annex building that served as an isolation center. (GFB)