Prevention Measures in European Prisons against COVID-19

Updated on: 6 May 2020

PLACEMENT / TREATMENT OF INFECTED DETAINEES

In case of a suspected case the Internal Contingency Plan foresees the isolation of the detainee in the Prison Hospital.

There are no detainees infected with COVID-19 at the moment.

New arrivals

All sentenced person’s that enters the prison or return to the prison environment resulting from the exceptional measures implemented, have to comply with a 14-day quarantine period, under the terms determined by the Internal Contingency Plan.

Prison visits

Among other measures adopted by DGRSP to fight and prevent the pandemic stage, in relation to prison establishments there are in place the following exceptional measures:

• the definition of internal plans of contingency in each prison establishment;
• the temporary suspension of visits to all prisons and educational centers;
• the suspension of transfers of prisoners between prisons;
• the suspension of the open regime to the outside in areas identified as at risk;
• the temporary suspension of all entries inside prison of persons and vehicles except prison staff and authorized personnel;
• the number of telephone calls allowed for family and other significant persons were triplicated during the period of suspension of visits;
• the increasing safety procedures of cleaning and hygiene of common and private facilities for the detainees;

Staff

There are currently 7 professionals infected with COVID-19 and isolated under the supervision of the National Health Authorities, and 4 have recovered from the infection.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING / MASKS

Since March, 22 thousand masks were received, of which 13,900 were distributed throughout the country, and the stock of masks and other contagion prevention materials will be renewed as needed.

Likewise, in March an order from the General Director was issued, reinforcing that the masks must be worn by all employees – they are given a mask whenever they start their daily duties.