Lotus Glen battles to contain virus after inmate tests positive

Prison staff are battling to contain an outbreak at the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre facility after an inmate tested positive to Covid-19.

PRISON staff are battling to contain a Covid-19 outbreak at the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre facility after an inmate tested positive to the virus on Friday.

A facility already understaffed and overcrowded is now grappling with the loss of staff unable to work due to contact with the virus.

A source within the jail said “dozens” of corrections staff at the Mareeba jail are waiting for the results of PCR tests.

A protest of Lotus Glen Correctional Centre staff and their families as well as Together Union members marched on Cook MP Cynthia Lui's office in the Cairns CBD on December 1, 2021. The march was led by Lotus Glen employees John Burley (left) and Basil Kidu (right).

Four staff have Covid-19 and it’s feared inmates of a 28-man unit could have contracted the virus after being in contact with the infected prisoner.

The prisoner was taken to Mareeba Hospital via ambulance on Friday morning.

A corrections officer, who asked not to be named, said testing of all inmates within the unit was under way.

“And everyone who was in the medical centre could be infected as well,” he said.

A prisoner has been taken from the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre to hospital after contracting Covid-19.

“I would say there would be at least 20 to 30 prisoners in that medical centre this morning (Friday.)

“(The infected inmate) obviously had symptoms, hence the ambulance came to Lotus.”

Together Queensland Prison Officers Union has pushed for a stage three or four lockdown to limit movement in the jail and protect guards.

Stage 4 restrictions mean all prisoners being secured in their cells and visits cancelled.

“They are sitting on their hands trying to give prisoners more out-of-cell time rather than go to stage three or four lockdown,” he said.

“I don’t want to put my family at risk and they will be if (Queensland Corrections) don’t go to stage three or four lockdowns.”

As of midday on January 7 Lotus Glen Correctional Centre had four officers unfit for duty due to Covid. PICTURE: STEWART McLEAN

A Corrections spokeswoman said the unit containing the infected prisoner’s cell had been locked down for cleaning and prisoner testing.

“We are working closely with Queensland Health to make appropriate decisions to ensure the safety and security of our centres,” she said.

“The safety of our officers is an absolute priority.”

Lotus Glen has made the call, on the advice of Queensland Health, to cancel all personal visits to the jail this weekend.

All officers working in Queensland correctional centres are required to be double jabbed by January 24.

Originally published as Lotus Glen battles to contain virus after inmate tests positive