Nearly 30 prison staff isolating after officer gets covid

Friday 20 November 2020

All social visits to HMP La Moye have been suspended and 28 staff are isolating after a Prison Officer tested positive for covid-19.

Contact tracing is underway, and the affected officer is following public health guidance and isolating with the rest of their household.

The Government said in a statement that there is no evidence that the virus is circulating within La Moye and that any prisoners have been affected, noting that the measures were a precaution. Isolating staff are having their roles covered by unaffected members of the team.

With prison visits suspended, inmates will instead be able to communicate with family members via video following the installation of special terminals back in March.

They will also be able to speak with family via telephones inside the prison.

"These measures are vital to protect the health of our staff and prisoners, and to ensure that we are all playing our part to minimise the spread of COVID-19. We have well-prepared plans to deal with the absence of staff in a scenario such as this," Acting Prison Governor Nick Watkins said.

"We are keeping the Independent Prison Monitoring Board (IPMB) informed of all measures we are taking to look after the well-being of prisoners and our staff."