Prisoners provided with cloth masks

Wednesday 10 June 2020

Inmates are being provided with cloth masks to wear in prison, it’s been confirmed, as HMP La Moye remains “covid free”.

The precaution emerged in response to a request made under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Law, in which the prison outlined all of the measures it has put in place in light of the virus outbreak.

Asked extensively about testing, protective equipment, social distancing and cleaning, the response shines a light on how the prison has been operating differently in the pandemic.

Pictured: The FoI response details the prison's covid-19 safety procedures.

In terms of contact, the prison service has significantly restricted movement to and from the prison by stopping family, professional or medical visits, or conducting them via video link. The GP clinics have also “reduced to two per week” and only offer “essential consultations”. 

The response also indicates that “staff are being issued with protective face masks and visors if required” and that “prisoners are asked to wear cloth facemasks, which are provided for them.”

The response adds at this point: “A strict policy is in place which will require prisoners to wear surgical face masks in specific circumstances – such as if they are being cared for on an isolation wing. To date we are covid free, so we do not need to implement this policy yet.”

Elsewhere in the FoI response, it explains how the prison service have been managing physical distancing “to allow prisoners time to collect meals etc., whilst maintaining a two-metre distance. 

Pictured: Staff are being provided with PPE. 

“Workshops and places of work have undergone similar modifications to allow social distancing. Similar modifications are in place to enable staff to maintain a two-metre distance such as entering the prison, collecting keys etc.”

The regime has also been changed “to allow prisoners to exercise and maintain a two-metre distance.”

As regards testing, “at the start of the pandemic, prison staff were given the PCR test if symptomatic,” but “more recently, all staff are eligible for testing under the PCR testing scheme and also have access to the antibody testing scheme.”

While inmates are being asked to wear masks, it is not currently legislation, in common with the wider island.

Islanders have been advised to wear cloth masks while shopping and in other public areas, but it is not mandatory.

In the UK, meanwhile, mask-wearing will be compulsory on public transport from 15 June. Those who refuse to wear one will be faced with a financial penalty.

Pictured: Mask-wearing is not compulsory on public transport in Jersey.

Asked by Express at a media briefing on Friday whether Jersey would consider introducing such a law, given that nearly 30 bus drivers have lost their lives to covid-19 in London alone, and that Jersey's own bus routes are likely to get busier as lockdown eases, the Chief Minister replied that there was "no present intention" to do so.

"It comes down to the advice, it comes down to people's behaviour, it also comes down to, at this stage, we still have a very low level of active cases on the island," Senator John Le Fondré explained.

"It's all around the balance of risk and at what point you need to put those measures in on a mandatory basis."

Despite this, LibertyBus is recommending the use of masks. Its drivers wear them, and students taking the bus as schools reopen this week were also advised to wear one.

Islanders entering the Airport or travelling with airline Blue Islands also have to wear a mask.