(Eagle News)–All persons deprived of liberty who are committed to a detention facility in Quezon City are now required to undergo COVID-19 testing.
This was after Mayor Joy Belmonte signed Executive Order No. 30, following reports from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Quezon City Police District that some inmates and personnel in their respective detention facilities tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the EO, the BJMP is required to coordinate with the Quezon City Health Department to arrange for the PDL’s COVID-19 testing in a separate quarantine facility after a court issues the commitment order.
Belmonte said the guidelines also cover those arrested by authorities before they are detained.
The EO said the PDL shall remain in the quarantine facility while waiting for the COVID-19 test result.
Only when the PDL tests negative shall he or she be transferred to the facility.
If the PDL is positive for the virus, he or she will remain in the quarantine facility for treatment or be moved to another facility as determined by the QCHD, the EO said.
The PDL will only be committed to the QCJ if cleared of infection.
Arrested PDLs shall also undergo the tests, with the QCPD notifying the QCHD immediately if they require immediate testing.
“If the PDL is found positive for COVID-19, the PDL shall be placed in a quarantine facility designated by the QCPD and City Health for isolation and treatment,” Belmonte said.
Before a PDL is released from the QCJ or any QCPD-run detention facility, they too will undergo a medical examination to determine whether COVID-19 testing is necessary.
The BJMP and QCPD shall also conduct regular health monitoring of PDLs in their custody and immediately notify the QCHD if any detainee exhibit COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, body aches and dry cough.