Last week, one prisoner tested positive to COVID-19 in NSW. This prisoner was isolated after being transferred from Victoria and then returned a positive test.
In Victoria, four staff members and ten prisoners have tested positive to COVID-19. These prisoners were surveillance tested on admission and placed in standard 14 day quarantine then returned positive tests.
NSW and Victoria have processes in place to test and quarantine prisoners. This has been successful to date in stopping COVID-19 spread.
DCS SA remains COVID-19 free.
DCS quarantines and isolates all prisoners who come from interstate, and conducts surveillance testing of all new prisoner admissions.
Our main priority is preventing COVID-19 entering our prisons in SA. The safety of our staff, prisoners and visitors is of utmost importance.
For more information on COVID-19 and our prisons, see COVID-19: important information for visitors to our prisons.