By Pamela Ramcharan
A convicted prisoner at the Frederick Street prison in Port-of-Spain has tested positive for Covid-19.
This was confirmed in a statement by the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service (TTPS) on it’s Facebook page on Monday morning.
It stated that the inmate who had underlying medical complications, complained of symptoms consistent with the virus, and was escorted to the Port –of-Spain General Hospital where a test was done and later returned with a positive result.
He was warded at the Caura Hospital and his family was informed by an assigned Welfare Officer.
The area where the prisoner was housed was immediately evacuated and sanitized while those who shared the same cell were placed under quarantine and being observed for symptoms.
Acting Commissioner of Prisons Dennis Pulchan indicated that despite all the preventative measures implemented to maintain a safe and Covid-19 free environment, today it was inevitable with the emergence of community cases.
He stated that his officers who had performed remarkably throughout the pandemic, were under strict guidelines not to report for duty if they experienced any flu-like symptoms or were in contact with persons testing positive or under quarantine.
He added that they were advised to seek medical attention at the health facility nearest to them.
Pulchan assured friends and relatives of incarcerated persons that management of the situation was ongoing for containment and every effort was being made to keep the inmates safe and secure.
The immediate and stringent measures undertaken by the TTPS from the onset of the pandemic, saw it’s effective prevention of spread of the virus within the nation’s prisons and these would continue.
