Correctional Services determined to keep virus in chains
Great emphasis has been placed on prevention measures
No positive cases of the coronavirus have been reported in correctional centres within the Glencoe Management Area. Stringent steps are still in place as the Covid-19 virus continues to ravage the world and the Department says ‘it is leaving nothing to chance, with no plans to retreat.’
The suspension of offenders’ visitors to Correctional Centres will remain.
Nonjabulo Gasa of the Glencoe Correctional Services: Communications Department told the Courier that great emphasis is being placed on prevention measures such as screening, improving personal and environmental hygiene, provision of personal equipment, sanitisation and decontamination interventions.
“This aspect rests heavily on behavioural change and adaptation by officials, inmates and anyone who visit our correctional facilities and administrative offices. The Department activated Infection Prevention Control (IPC) measures at all Correctional Centres with specific directives to ensure that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is availed and has pushed for the sanitation of reception areas, cells, offices, vehicles and ablution facilities,” Ms Gasa said.
All Heads of Correctional Centres are ensuring that control strategies are implemented and monitored. She added that all education, skills, social work, psychology, spiritual Care programmes, that require large number of offenders to attend, have been stopped. A few programmes are continuing as per the needs of offenders, a limited number of offenders are accommodated in groups ensuring adequate space between each inmate. Windows and doors are opened to ensure circulation of air.
Other measures include:
* SRAC programmes are being offered, ensuring that there is limited number of offenders involved and the venue is well ventilated. The soccer field is utilised for this purpose.
* Screening of officials, service providers and any other person entering the centre is done at all entrance points.
* Screening (temperature) is done for everyone daily before entering the Centre/ offices.
* All our nurses and front line personnel have attended Covid-19 training which was rolled out by Department of Health.
“Containment and treatment measures will be activated in the event a staff member or inmate population contracts the virus. It will be important that immediate steps are taken to prevent other officials, inmates and stakeholders from being exposed to further infections. These will include isolation of the presumptive cases, quarantine and referrals of the confirmed cases to the designated provincial hospitals for further treatment.
“The Department of Correctional Services has gone a step further and appointed a team comprising of security experts as well as professionals to conduct a scenario planning exercise. They will be jointly working with other security cluster partners to explore and consider different crisis and emergency possibilities.”
“There is daily reporting on all preventative and containment activities as well as incidences within the correctional value chain, especially at coalface and in departmental offices. Urgent procurement of necessary equipment, products and other resources from transversal contracts at National Treasury has been effected in order to enable the various arms and sections of the department to respond appropriately.”
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