The COVID-19 health crisis continues to impact the country’s correctional facilities with active cases among staff and inmates and low vaccine take-up. Currently, there are eight active cases of COVID-19 among inmates and five active cases among staff in the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) across the island.
Speaking during a tour of the Stony Hill Police Division, Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Matthew Samuda, says at least two facilities are currently being impacted by positive cases. He says there are at least two cases at the Metcalfe Street Secure Juvenile Remand Centre, however none are in critical condition an d are currently being monitored.
Meanwhile, vaccine hesitancy continues to be a key factor for the low vaccine take-up in correctional facilities. Less than 10% of inmates have taken the vaccine and 33% of probation officers and about 25% of correctional officers have so far been vaccinated.
And as the pandemic persists, Senator Samuda says the Ministry will continue to deploy best practices especially as new variants emerge. He says the DCS will look to ramp up the monitoring of the facilities to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases being recorded by inmates and staff.
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