‘Emergency’ Covid situation in South Australia’s prison network after more than 10 prisoners test positive
South Australia’s prison system is dealing with an “unfolding Covid-19 emergency situation”, after more than 10 prisoners tested positive within the past 24 hours.
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South Australia’s prison system is dealing with an “unfolding Covid-19 emergency situation”, after more than 10 prisoners tested positive in the past 24 hours.
In a leaked memo that was circulated to staff on Friday afternoon, Correctional Services Department chief executive David Brown said a male prisoner at the Adelaide Pre-release centre (APC) tested positive on Thursday night.
“Further rapid antigen testing was then undertaken and I can confirm that 10 additional prisoners have now tested positive – six men and four women,” he said.
The cases are in addition to a woman who tested positive while in isolation at the Adelaide Women’s Prison (AWP) on Thursday and two prisoners at Mobilong Prison who tested positive on Friday.
“The APC has now been declared an outbreak situation and the site is in lockdown, as is AWP,” Mr Brown said.
“Both sites are now designated Covid Response – Red.”
The APC and AWC are at the same site on Grand Junction Road at Northfield.
Mobilong at Murray Bridge is also in lockdown while contract tracing is undertaken, and “a small number of prisoners are also showing symptoms and are being tested”.
Mr Brown said prisons have high vaccination rates and rigorous hygiene processes, and the Correctional Services Department had spent months preparing for a Covid outbreak in the network.
“Covid entering our prisons was never a matter of if, but when,” he said.
“We were as prepared as we could be for this inevitable situation in our high-risk settings.”
In a statement yesterday, the Corrections Department said all protocols were being followed and the Communicable Disease Control Branch had been advised.
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