80 STRUCK DOWN AFTER COVID OUTBREAK AT PRISON
‘SPREADING AT ALARMING RATE’
HULL Prison has been dealing with a huge Covid-19 outbreak which saw around 80 prisoners and staff struck down by the virus.
One source has told the Mail “the wheels have come off” after the virus spread through I and J wing, which houses the prison’s sex offenders.
The source says there were up to 100 confirmed cases at the prison – and at least one Covid-positive prisoner died – although other reports suggest the number was nearer 80.
The source says staff numbers have been decimated as prison officers either caught the virus or had to self-isolate.
He claims: “The wheels are coming off at the prison. There is one wing with more than 100 confirmed cases.
“It has been travelling round the prison at an alarming rate. A lot of staff are having to self-isolate and the impact is great.
“Staff are concerned about the long-term impact this will have. “The majority of the cases are in the I and J wing, which houses the sex offenders.
“There is a concern here because there tends to be an older age bracket among these prisoners. “There have been very unwell prisoners on ventilators and in comas.”
The source says there has been concerns raised over letting out Covid-positive prisoners for exercise, which he believes has put officers at risk.
He said: “Staff are being told to allow Covid-positive prisoners out each day to walk through to the exercise yard. But there are so many there isn’t time to disinfect the yard properly afterwards.
“It is really difficult to manage that amount of cases and I am sure there will be more. There have been concerns raised about letting prisoners out.
“There have not been enough staff to operate the prison with so many off self-isolating and officers have not been getting the right PPE.
“It must be a nightmare for the governor and we are all working together to get a positive outcome, but this has been a very difficult time.”
The Mail understands the majority of the 80 to 100 prisoners and staff who tested positive are now coming to the end of their self-isolation and only a handful of prisoners remain Covid-positive.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “Our priority is to limit the spread of the virus and protect the lives of those who live and work in our prisons.
“We have taken precautionary measures at Hull, in line with public health guidance, and will continue to closely monitor the situation.”
Public Health England has confirmed there have been a number of Covid cases in the past couple of months.
A spokesman said: “A number of staff and prisoners at HMP Hull have tested positive for Covid-19 over recent months and Public Health England have been working closely with the prison and the local authority to manage this, reduce transmission of the infection and advise on self-isolation and testing.”
The revelation explains why the Southcoates Central and Docks area has suffered a much higher weekly rate of infection compared to other areas of Hull.
Last week, cases rose drastically in the area, reaching a weekly rolling rate of 1,031.9 per 100,000 of the population which is close to the rate it recorded at its peak in November.
At the weekend the area still had a rate of 1,009.2, which is considerably higher than other areas of the city.
The wheels are coming off at the prison Source