virus halted Ireland's prisons are now 'Covid-free' after 100 cases recorded during pandemic

A total of 100 cases have been recorded within the prison system within the 12 months since the pandemic began.

Mountjoy Prison

Patrick O'Connell

March 24 2021 02:53 PM

IRELAND’S prison system is today ‘Covid-free’ – having officially recorded a total of 100 cases in the 12 months since the pandemic began

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) this morning confirmed to sundayworld.com that there are currently zero cases of Covid active within our jails.

Of the total 100 cases recorded within the prison system within the 12 months since the pandemic began, 48 cases were classed as ‘community transmission’ - cases that came in with inmates on their incarceration or through officers.

The remaining 52 cases were prison-based, in that these inmates or employees contracted the virus within the jail.

The most recent outbreak dealt with by the Irish Prison Service occurred in Arbour Hill in late February into early March.

On March 8, the IPS announced it was standing down the Arbour Hill Prison Outbreak Control Teams after the outbreak was successfully curtailed.

Outbreak Control Teams (OCT) were deployed in prisons across the country in incidents where outbreaks occurred to oversee the appropriate actions to be taken to mitigate against further possible spread of the disease within a prisons.

The Irish Prison Service has been widely praised for its success in protecting the prison community from Covid-19.

The first case in a prison was confirmed in August and in that case it was a person who was committed to custody with the virus.

Through the introduction of robust infection control measures and an internationally recognised Contact Tracing System, the Service has successfully mitigated against the spread of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic.

However, given the current level of prevalence of the virus in the community the Irish Prison Service says it now faces an unprecedented challenge in continuing to keep staff & prisoners safe from infection.

The Irish Prison Service is working closely with HSE Public Health with regard to the management of the current outbreaks including making arrangements for the mass testing of prisoners and staff if required.