Everyone entering Tasmania’s prison system will be forced to isolate for 14 days

Tasmania’s prisons have taken drastic measures to ensure there is no spread of COVID-19 within Tasmania’s correctional facilities – including further limiting prisoner mobility.

ALL prisoners entering Tasmania’s prison system will be forced into isolation for 14 days.

All prisoners and remandees entering Tasmania’s prison system from this week will be kept separate from the rest of the population for the COVID-19 incubation period.

Elise Archer, Minister for Corrections, said this is for the safety, security, health and wellbeing of staff, prisoners and visitors.

“Previously, isolation was mandatory for anyone coming into custody from the North-West of the State, or where considered appropriate in response to COVID-19 screening questions,” she said.

“The Tasmania Prison Service has developed an isolation strategy that allows the appropriate housing of prisoners of all security classifications by using existing infrastructure.

“It is recognised that physical isolation can have a negative impact on a prisoner’s health and wellbeing, and a range of measures have been put in place to monitor the health and wellbeing of prisoners.”

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Isolated prisoners will still be able to contact their families and a social support network by mail and phone, and in some cases by using technology.

“They will also be offered a range of materials and equipment to keep them engaged and active,” Ms Archer said.

As part of the plan, the TPS will also install fixed, non-contact temperature scanners at the entries to all TPS facilities.

Once the devices are installed, anyone entering TPS facilities will be required to submit to a non-contact temperature scan before they are permitted entry.

“Anyone whose temperature exceeds 38C will be denied entry and instructed to seek medical advice,” Ms Archer said.

“Where a person has been denied entry, they will not be permitted to return to a TPS facility until they have received written clearance from a medical practitioner.”