April 15, 2020 - Health officials of Cagayan de Oro gave an assurance to the public that they are closely monitoring the city jail for a possible coronavirus transmission.

During the 28th press conference at the City Hall, epidemiologist Dr. Joselito Retuya said that the inmates of the CDO City Jail in Barangay Lumbia have been regularly checked to avoid the spread of COVID-19 inside.

"The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) issued a memorandum order (BJMP COVID-19 Advisory No. 6) mandating all in-mates who have received visitors, whether male or female, to be regularly checked," he said.

Apart from COVID-19, Retuya highlighted that they are also monitoring the possible transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and other respiratory illnesses among the inmates.

“We have regular surveillance for male and female inmates in the City Jail for HIV,” Retuya iterated.  

Since March 20, 2020, BJMP has been implementing an absolute lockdown in all of its jail facilities, including the CDO City Jail, to curb the spread COVID-19.