There are currently 461 Queensland prison inmates being treated for COVID-19.
A statement from Queensland Corrective Services today said the coronavirus Omicron variant had spread through the prison system, with “many Queensland prisons now have COVID-19 cases”.
“As of today, there are 461 prisoners who are being treated as positive cases across the State. These prisoners are being cared for by Queensland Health, and a number of prisoners have already recovered since the commencement of the Omicron wave,” the department said.
Only a small number of prisoners have so far required hospital treatment for COVID-19, it said.
“This is at least partly to do with the fact that a high percentage of prisoners have been fully vaccinated. Just like in the community, vaccination is very good protection against serious illness requiring hospitalisation.”
It said prisoners were being treated in prison health clinics staffed by Queensland Health doctors and nurses.
“This means that prisoners can be closely monitored for illness and sent to hospital should this be necessary.”
“Even though many prisons are dealing with COVID cases, Queensland Health is still regularly providing vaccinations and boosters, so if you have a loved one in prison who isn’t vaccinated yet, ask them to talk to an officer or health staff about getting vaccinated.”
“The management of each unit in a centre is being approached depending on whether there are COVID-19 positive prisoners in them.
“This means that in the one centre, there could be different restrictions for different units. In some units, prisoners may be restricted to the unit and in others some prisoners maybe in cell isolation, while units with no COVID cases may be unlocked, but with internal movements restricted to reduce the risk of transmission.”
For this reason, activities, programs and industries are being heavily restricted in the state’s prisons, with essential workers being unlocked to undertake their work in the kitchens, laundries and other places.
The department said it wasn’t yet known when visits to Queensland prisons would be able to resume.
“At this point in the pandemic, we’ve had to prioritise essential operational activities within centres, so visits have been cancelled. This allows centres to adjust their activities to care for prisoners who are in isolation.”
“As this phase of the pandemic passes, and we see a reduction in prisoners who need to be isolated and officers off duty, we’ll look at restarting visits as soon as Queensland Health tells us it is safe.
“This may happen at different times for different centres, depending on the number of COVID-19 cases amongst prisoners, how many officers are unable to work, and what is happening in the local community.
“All of these restrictions have been put in place in consultation with Queensland Health. As soon as we are able to safely do so, these restrictions will be eased.”
