Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams.
A level of normalcy is returning to Her Majesty’s Prisons Dodds.
Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams declared this yesterday during a Covid-19 update at Illaro Court, noting the facility’s number of positive cases had dropped.
“We keep monitoring the inmates for symptoms or doing tests where warranted or where medical information suggests that tests should be done. We have started using the rapid testing system and the rapid testing system today was able to pick up three persons that we suspected were positive, and we were able to isolate them and those around them in an effort to control what is going on there,” he said.
The facility has recorded the largest cluster on the island with over 300 persons including inmates, prison officers and civilian staff testing positive for Covid-19 since December.
Admitting the situation was a “testing and trying” one, he insisted “some level of normalcy had returned to the prison”.
In fact, Abrahams pointed out several inmates who completed their sentence while in quarantine have been released after being medically cleared to do so.
One of the major challenges facing the penitentiary, the Home Affairs Minister admitted however, is the high number of prison officers on sick leave, noting 147 have reported back to duty, with 10 currently awaiting results.
“We currently have 99 prison officers on sick leave and I want to wish them a very speedy return to health so they could resume their duties; and for the 13 currently in isolation, my best wishes go out to you,” he stressed.
Seeking to give assurances to relatives of inmates, he said phone calls and the mMoney platform for crediting accounts have been restored, while virtual visits will resume as soon as possible.
“Five previously positive persons who have gone through 14 days quarantine were released today and some inmates were allowed outside to enjoy exercise in a controlled manner, because while our positives have come down drastically, we have to be mindful that if we are not on top of our game, it can flare up again,” Abrahams added.
(JMB)