Parklea Correctional Centre: 75 cases of Covid as lockdowns enforced

The number of Covid-positive inmates and staff at Parklea Correctional Centre has reached staggering heights, after 43 new cases were confirmed overnight.

The number of inmates diagnosed with Covid-19 inside the privately-run Parklea Correctional Centre in Western Sydney has risen to 75, after NSW chief medical officer Dr Kerry Chant revealed 43 new cases overnight.

Ms Chant said the prison was “experiencing an outbreak” following the release of Covid-positive inmates at the facility increasing to 74, with one staff member at the facility also contracting the virus.

Parklea Correctional Centre. Picture: CSNSW

“The prison is in lockdown and appropriate public health action is occurring,” she said.

“There is vaccinations going into the prison, there is infection control practitioners onsite and clinical care being provided to all the prisoners.

“We are seeing outbreaks in prison, I have identified prisons are vulnerable settings and its pleasing we have been rolling out vaccinations to corrective services staff and prisoners.”

Parklea Correctional Centre Covid cases increased to 75 overnight with 43 new cases. Picture: CSNSW

The uptick in Covid-positive inmates at the Parklea Correctional Centre comes as the NSW Government moved to enforce a total lockdown of all public and private correctional facilities across the state on Monday — with restrictions on movements between facilities, increased personal protective equipment requirements and minimal interactions with inmates implemented.

A corrections source at the facility said officers were “up-in-arms” over the number of cases.

MTC-Broad spectrum was contacted for comment.