To date, 104 prisoners and 18 staff at the receival and remand facility have tested positive to COVID.
Established isolation, contact tracing and infection controls have been activated as part of the prison’s comprehensive pandemic plan to minimise the spread.
Commissioner for Corrective Services Mike Reynolds said everything possible was being done to look after the prisoners and those deemed to be close contacts.
“Fortunately, none of the positive prisoners are seriously ill, most are asymptomatic and all are being monitored and cared for by prison medical and custodial staff,” Commissioner Reynolds said.
“COVID-positive prisoners are being isolated away from other prisoners in line with health directions and COVID-19 prison protocols.
“Likewise, staff members who have tested positive will isolate at home, in line with health directions, until they are no longer infectious. Staffing levels at the prison are being closely monitored.
“The Department is well prepared to deal with this situation; we anticipated COVID-19 would get into correctional facilities when community spread reached the high levels we are seeing now in WA.”
All staff in correctional facilities are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including the booster shot when eligible.
The third phase of the Department’s statewide prisoner vaccination program is currently underway. At close of business yesterday, 86.3% WA prisoners and detainees had received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose, with 71% with at least two doses.
The Department is also responding to positive prisoner cases at five of the 17 other custodial facilities; at Melaleuca Women’s Prison (26), Bandyup Women’s Prison (7), Banksia Hill Detention Centre (3), Roebourne Prison (1) and Albany Prison (1).
These cases are included in the daily COVID-19 case numbers reported by WA Health.
