Dozens of inmates with Covid

DOZENS of Winchester prison inmates have contracted Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, figures reveal.

Charity the Prison Reform Trust said measures introduced to reduce the spread of the virus in custody, such as keeping prisoners in their cells for most of the day, have taken a ‘significant’ mental and emotional toll on inmates nationally.

Home Office data shows 85 cases were recorded by Winchester prison between March 2020 and the end of January.

January saw the highest number of infections among prisoners, when 77 people tested positive.

During that month, Winchester had a population of 481, meaning 16 per cent of inmates contracted coronavirus. At the start of the pandemic, not all prisoners showing symptoms were tested and where there was evidence of an outbreak, any symptomatic case was assumed to be positive. Testing was introduced regularly from April 15.

The data also shows that one inmate died within four weeks of a positive Covid-19 test or clinical assessment determining they had coronavirus. The death occurred in April.

Alex Hewson, senior policy officer at the Prison Reform Trust, said: ‘A year on since restrictions were introduced, saving lives has comeatahugepriceforprisoners and their families.

‘Rather than following the advice of their own health experts to reduce prison numbers, ministers chose to enforce a near 24-hour lockdown of people to their six by nine-foot prison cell – often with another person. Twelve months on that remains the case.’