Zambo Covid cases now 95, over 700 more suspected virus carriers

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The number of novel coronavirus or Covid-19 cases continue to rise in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines with 21 more people tested positive for the deadly respiratory disease.

The local task force on Covid-19 released a bulletin on Tuesday saying the test results came from prisoners and jail guards earlier tested by health authorities for infection.

Zamboanga now has 95 Covid-19 cases.

The latest Covid-19 record shows 16 prisoners and 5 jail guards have contracted the disease despite a strict quarantine measure imposed at the facility since March. All are in stable condition and have been isolated from hundreds of prisoners who also underwent Covid-19 testing.

On Monday, at least 14 new Covid-19 cases were reported by local health authorities.

Mayor Beng Climaco, who heads the task force, said all the new cases were part of earlier testing conducted on prisoners and jail guards at the penitentiary. 

At least 60 prisoners have been ordered released by the court and are now placed under a 14-day quarantine at a local hotel before they are allowed to go back home. They also underwent Covid-19 testing as part of the health protocol.

Last week, a 61-year old female detainee tested positive for the virus died and became the 3^rd prisoner to succumb to the deadly respiratory disease. There are now over 3 dozen prisoners and jail guards also infected with the disease. But the number of infected prisoners is expected to increase as more Covid-19 test results are expected to come out in the comings days.

It was unknown how the prisoners contracted the virus since the penitentiary has been off limits to visitors since the start of the enhanced community quarantine. Now, the whole area and the adjacent street is under total lock down and guarded by soldiers and policemen. 

Zamboanga City now has over 700 suspected Covid-19 cases and at least 100 deaths since March.

Climaco said the local government is currently putting up a huge quarantine facilities inside the sprawling Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone. She said four buildings have been converted into quarantine areas and can accommodate at least 270 patients and a condotel for health care workers.

She also thanked Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone chairman Raul Regondola and the Philippine Army engineer brigade for helping in the construction of the facilities. (Zamboanga Post)

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