Prisons and Coronavirus

There has been a rumour for days that coronavirus has already entered the prison estate and this from a lawyer seen on Twitter at 5.00pm yesterday would seem to lend it some credence:- 

"Went to see client in cells today. He refused to come out, passed me a note: cellmate has corona, I don't want to infect you. Cell staff confirmed prison said he has suspected corona or TB. Why was he put in a van and brought to court to spread it?!"

This from the Independent earlier in the week highlighted concerns:-
  
Coronavirus ‘would spread like wildfire’ if outbreak hit UK prisons, experts warn

As coronavirus takes hold across the UK, it is looking increasingly likely that many of us will be forced into some degree of self-isolation. With England’s deputy chief medical officer admitting the UK will see “many thousands of people” contract the disease, trying to avoid crowded spaces and have limited contact with other people sounds like a good idea.

This isn't an option in prisons, where thousands of inmates exist in cells accommodating more people than they are designed to hold. For prisoners and staff alike, the outbreak poses a bigger threat than to those in the community. Some jails suffer from conditions that could create a “perfect storm” for spreading disease - infamously poor hygiene, constant movement of prisoners in and out and notoriously cramped conditions.

The Howard League for Penal Reform, a leading prisons charity, has written to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) demanding a statement on precautions being taken to protect people in prison, and thereby the wider population, from coronavirus – warning that “unhygienic” prisons where even soap is frequently impossible to obtain – could be a “centre for spreading the virus into the community”.

“I am surprised that there appears to have been no statement from the MoJ as to the precautions being taken,” states the letter, signed by chief executive Frances Crook. Ms Crook wrote that infectious diseases “flourish” in conditions of overcrowding, poor ventilation, filth and in populations with compromised health. She added: “Should anyone enter a prison already infected with coronavirus it would spread and multiply like wildfire inside the establishment and in the community.”

Poor hygiene in jails, where many inmates are unable to shower once a day or wash their hands with soap, is a considerable concern for attempts to prevent spread of the disease, but prisons face a further problem in providing adequate treatment if people do show symptoms.

A recent report by the Nuffield Trust think tank showed prisoners in Britain frequently had hospital appointments cancelled and received less healthcare than the general public, with as many as four in 10 hospital appointments made for a prisoner cancelled or missed in 2017-18 – largely due to a lack of prison staff available to transport and guard prisoners while at hospital. If people in jail begin to show symptoms, there are questions about how they will access the necessary healthcare.

“Healthcare in prisons is often far worse than it is in the community, and prisoners can struggle to attend hospital appointments due to staffing shortages," said Aidan Shilson-Thomas, criminal justice researcher at the Reform think tank, describing the threat of coronavirus in prisons as a "perfect storm". He added: "With a growing number of older prisoners and many having underlying health conditions, it is vital that resources are made available so prisons can offer the same quality of care that members of the public would receive.”

Aside from low hygiene and below-par health facilities, campaigners warn that already low staffing levels in jails – with the total cumulative length of service among prison officers having plummeted by a quarter since 2010 – could cause further problems.

A secret Ministry of Justice blueprint is reported to lay out plans for thousands of low-risk prisoners to be released early if the coronavirus outbreak creates a shortage of staff in jails. According to the Sunday Times, ministers don't support the plans, but concerns are growing that a dwindling prison workforce would be unable to provide basic necessities, such as food and security, for the UK’s 84,000 prisoners.

Another measure is to reduce movement in and out of jails by banning family visits, but the consequences of such a move have proven devastating elsewhere. In Italy, at least six prisoners died on Sunday, reportedly after overdosing on methadone during a protest against a ban on family visits, aimed at restricting the spread of coronavirus. Riots are said to have broken out in 27 Italian prisons after all visits were suspended and inmates were told they could only speak to visitors on the phone or via Skype.

“Ministers and governors are stuck between a rock and a hard place,” said Mr Shilson-Thomas on the UK prison response. “With a lot of people coming and going from some prisons it seems very likely that the virus will enter prisons unless very strict measures are adopted for all visitors and new arrivals. But limiting prisoners' social time and family visits would be very disruptive.”

Regardless of whether visits are banned, self-isolating prisoners will likely be near-impossible in most overcrowded establishments, with many inmates living two-to-a-cell already.

A prison service spokesperson said: “We have robust contingency plans in place based on the latest advice from Public Health England. Basic hygiene is a key part of tackling coronavirus. Handwashing facilities are available in all prisons and we have worked closely with suppliers to ensure adequate supply of soap and cleaning materials. We have the ability to deploy staff flexibly and will prioritise the safety of officers, prisoners and visitors while ensuring minimal possible disruption to normal regimes.” 

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The demanded MoJ statement was quickly forthcoming on Thursday:-

Coronavirus (COVID-19) prison preparedness: Lucy Frazer statement

Lucy Frazer said:

"The Government is doing everything it can to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, based on the very latest scientific and medical advice. This includes in our prisons, where we are working closely with Public Health England, the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care to manage the challenges we face.

The safety and wellbeing of staff, prisoners and visitors is paramount and at the heart of our approach.

Prisons have existing, well-developed policies and procedures in place to manage outbreaks of infectious diseases. This means prisons are well prepared to take immediate action whenever cases or suspected cases are identified, including isolating individuals where necessary.

Basic hygiene is a key part of tackling the virus and good practice is being promoted on posters throughout the estate. Handwashing facilities are available to all prisoners – not just in cells but other shared areas such as education blocks and kitchens. Staff and visitors also have access to handwashing facilities and we have worked closely with suppliers to ensure adequate supply of soap and cleaning materials.

We understand that prisoners and their loved ones might be concerned about the situation. But we can assure them that we will continue to operate normal regimes, with the minimum disruption, for as long as we can. This will include visits to prisoners but, in line with Public Health advice for the general public, we urge any friend or family member not to come to a prison for visit if they have any symptoms associated with COVID-19 - a fever or new, persistent cough. We are also looking into ways to keep prisoners in close contact with their families in all eventualities, and will share further information as and when necessary.

We have procedures agreed with our public health colleagues for protecting staff in the workplace but, like any member of the community, some prison staff may need to self-isolate in line with public health advice, or may become infected. We are taking steps to boost staff availability and so enable us to look after prisoners properly and minimise the impacts on prison regimes of staff absences.

There is a huge amount of work taking place, and I want to thank all those who have been striving tirelessly to make sure we are ready to do all we can to respond over the coming weeks."

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From BBC website:-

Coranavirus: Emergency plan for prisons in England and Wales

The government is drawing up emergency plans to avoid disruption in England's prisons, with unions saying prison officers face "unprecedented" challenges. Prison staff will be offered bonuses to cover shortages - and staff could be redeployed to cover front line services. A number of inmates died during unrest at several Italian prisons last week after visits were suspended.

The Prison Officers Association has compared conditions in England's prisons to those found on cruise ships and the Prison Governors Association has said cases of the virus are inevitable. BBC News has seen advice issued to prisons, which says inmates who had contact with a known coronavirus patient should be isolated in single accommodation.

It is understood plans being drawn in up in Whitehall involve communicating regularly with inmates, making sure they can contact their families and providing extra materials - like books and magazines - to those isolating to try to avoid boredom. The possibility of designating other buildings as prisons to cope with pressures has not been ruled out.

Senior figures do not believe large numbers of prisoners will have to be released to cope with any strain. There is, however, significant concern about the impact on older prisoners with underlying health issues. Ministers are thought to have not ruled out releasing vulnerable inmates most at risk, but the instinct in government is that they should serve their sentences.