Teachers from Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre test positive to COVID-19
Victoria’s youth detention system has been hit by another three positive coronavirus cases, throwing the trouble-plagued Malmsbury prison into a prolonged lockdown.
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The state’s youth justice system has been plagued by another three teaching staff testing positive to the coronavirus.
Four employees at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre have now contracted the contagious virus, throwing the trouble-plagued prison into a prolonged lockdown.
A female education coordinator based at Parkville College was the first to test positive last week and three teachers employed by the Department of Education have additionally tested positive.
Movement is restricted within the facility and prisoners will remain in lockdown while contact tracing takes place.
Extended lockdowns within the state’s youth justice system have led to trouble among detainees in the past.
CCTV is being reviewed to work out who the teachers have had close contact with.
All prisoners had tested negative to the coronavirus as of Monday night.
Many teachers travel from metropolitan Melbourne to Malmsbury and sources have told the Herald Sun carpooling arrangements have raised questions among staff.
The Department of Justice said a range of measures had been implemented in response to the coronavirus including screening questions, temperature testing, quarantine measures, and testing as required in accordance with health advice.
“We will continue to work to minimise any potential risks for young people and staff,” a department of Justice spokeswoman said.
“All young people tested have returned a negative result for coronavirus.
“We will continue to support and monitor the health and wellbeing of all young people and staff at the facility.”
There are concerns from some staff who say they are not being kept informed about what is happening, a claim the department categorically denies.
They say there was a delay between the testing of the first positive case and management making it known to staff.
“We’re being told nothing,” a prison source said.
“The Government is pushing everyone to do the right thing and we don’t know what’s going on.”
Many of the Malmsbury staff live in Bendigo and other rural centres which are desperate to keep COVID-19 out, with fears they may take the virus home.
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