This page contains links to Covid-19 in prisons news from various sources and is updated daily. Use the filters to view articles from different regions/topics or use the search box to look for articles based on key words. Please note that these articles are from external sources and may not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of ICPA.
What’s happening in your region? To share news updates please email Catalin Ungureanu catalinungureanu@icpa.org
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11 convicts test positive for COVID-19 in Maralal Prison
December 1, 2020
Maralal County, CEC Health Stephen Lekupe has stated that the 11 patients are currently in an isolation centre established at the prison.
Probe into inmates’ quarantine after contact with warders who died of Covid
November 30, 2020
The inspecting judge for prisons, retired Constitutional Court justice Edwin Cameron, has asked for an urgent report into conditions at St Albans Prison in Nelson Mandela Bay, where an entire cell of 35 inmates was placed under quarantine after two prisoners were exposed to Covid-positive prison warders who subsequently died
Inmate tells High Court of major health crisis at Chikurubi prison
November 24, 2020
Prisoner Tautai Dzodzo says the facility which was designed to carry 1,360 inmates currently has over 2,000 prisoners. At least 500 inmates share two toilets, but the prison complex has had no running water since November 8 following a power outage that has affected pumping.
Lesotho- Prisons to grow own food as hunger bites
November 24, 2020
“(MENAFN – The Post) MASERU -THE Lesotho Correctional Services (LCS) has ventured into farming to tackle serious malnutrition among prisoners. Justice Minister Professor Nqosa Mahao told a press conference last week that some inmates were malnourished because of poor diet. ‘The ministry has decided to grow its own food to enhance nutrition in the correctional centres,’ Professor Mahao said.”
Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono speaks out over brutal Zimbabwe prison conditions
October 2, 2020
Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, jailed for 45 days and charged with inciting violence, has spoken of the appalling abuse and prison conditions he witnessed.
Kenya: Thousands of Petty Offenders Released During Covid-19 Pandemic
September 30, 2020
More than 10,000 petty offenders have been released from correctional facilities across the country during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Commissioner General of Prisons Wycliffe Ogallo.
FG to decongest juvenile inmates in prisons – Malami
September 30, 2020
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), said on Tuesday that the Federal Government was planning to embark on second phase of prison decongestion exercise which would focus on juvenile inmates.
Covid-19 : contamination de 34 détenus et cinq agents pénitentiaires à la prison de Mornaguia
September 30, 2020
En effet, ces cas de Covid-19 ont été découverts suite à la publication des résultats d’un premier lot de 65 tests de dépistage. Et ce, parmi 132 analyses effectuées dimanche dernier dans la prison.
Many Covid-19 recoveries for Leeuwkop prison
September 29, 2020
Leeuwkop Prison believes they are past the peak of the coronavirus with one active case of an official and three active cases of inmates on 16 September.
“COVID-19: FG Decongests Prisons, Releases 3,751 Inmates “
September 29, 2020
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) said about 3,751 inmates have so far been released during a nationwide decongestion exercise after the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria.
Families encouraged to visit Kgosi Mampuru prison inmates
September 25, 2020
The Department of Justice and Correctional Services has encouraged people wishing to visit inmates at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre to make bookings to avoid being turned away.
In Zimbabwe’s overcrowded prisons, fear of COVID-19 spreads
September 25, 2020
Behind bars and confined in a tight space shared by dozens of other detainees, Zimbabwean opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume was anxious about catching coronavirus.
Mile 2 Prison hit by covid-19
September 25, 2020
Inmates at Mile 2 Central Prison have reportedly been hit by the covid-19 pandemic; The Point has been reliably informed.
How South African prisons are managing Covid-19
September 16, 2020
The pandemic has amplified the problem of overcrowding in prisons and while the number of infections are said to be on the decline, inmates continue to fear for their lives.
More than 50 in overcrowded DRC prison starve
September 15, 2020
Fifty-two inmates at a prison in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) city of Bunia have starved to death this year because of insufficient government funding, the UN and local authorities said.
Butembo : 2 détenus atteints de Covid-19 à la prison de Kakwangura refusent le traitement “suite au manque de nourriture”
September 14, 2020
La prison centrale de Kakwangura en ville de Butembo a déjà été touchée par la pandémie de Coronavirus par au moins 7 cas.
Uganda: Ministry of Health and WHO Respond to a Spike of Covid-19 Infection in Amuru Prison
September 14, 2020
Amuru Prison is just like any other prisons facility in Uganda with prisoners going about their daily chores and routines under the watchful eyes of wardens. The situation has been like this for years, and it continues to be.
SA prisons report 93% recovery rate, with 299 active cases left out of 6 944 infections
September 14, 2020
The Department of Correctional Services has reported a 93% recovery rate, only with 299 active cases….
Moroto prison sealed off as 30 inmates test positive to Covid-19
September 11, 2020
Moroto government prison has been closed to new inmates after 30 inmates tested positive to Covid-19 on Thursday.
Kitgum taskforce to regulate movement of prison staff due to Covid-19
September 9, 2020
Kitgum district COVID-19 taskforce committee is seeking to regulate the movement of all prison officials in the community over increasing cases of COVID-19 in prison facilities.
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