Covid-positive prisoners cause for concern in Darwin Correctional Centre

About 25 prisoners in Darwin Correctional Centre have tested positive for Covid, with corrections staff monitoring the inmates in line with protocols.

About 25 prisoners in Darwin Correctional Centre have tested positive for Covid, with corrections staff monitoring the inmates in line with protocols.

Corrections staff are reportedly monitoring the situation as the outbreak unfolds.

A spokeswoman for the Department of the Attorney-General said Covid cases in NT correctional services were managed according to NT Health’s Covid plan.

“This includes mask-wearing, reinforcing hygiene protocols and testing procedures where necessary,” she said.

“Suspected and confirmed positive cases are isolated from the general population.

“Due to the high vaccination rates of all prisoners in NT custodial facilities, most prisoners who test positive to Covid are reporting either zero or mild symptoms.”

The spokeswoman would not confirm if any prisoners were currently infected with the virus.

There were 238 new Covid cases reported in the NT as of October 27.

An NT Health spokeswoman said 11 were currently in hospitals across the NT, with eight in Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospital.

NT Health updates its confirmed Covid case numbers weekly on Fridays.