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Caledon prison may have restrictions eased amid Covid-19 recovery reports
By Okuhle Hlati
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Cape Town – The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) could soon start relaxing some restrictions to stop the Covid-19 spread at the Helderstroom Maximum Correctional Centre in Caledon as no new cases were reported for the past five days.
A strict lockdown, with conditions including limited to almost no movement, had to be put in place on Saturday to contain the spread.
This after infections among inmates rose from 87 to 152, while the number of officials who contracted the virus increased from five to eight.
DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said although it was the Maximum Centre that was the main concern, they also placed strict protocols at the Medium Centre following fears the spread would be uncontrollable.
13 Januarie 2021 06:21
The Maximum Security Centre of Helderstroom Correctional Centre outside Caledon has been put under lockdown in efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19 among inmates and wardens.
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) announced this step last week after it was revealed that a total of 152 inmates and eight wardens had tested positive for the coronavirus.
DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said in a statement: “Critical at this stage is the activation of containment and treatment measures in order to prevent other officials and inmates from being exposed to the virus. While the process of tracking and tracing the index case(s) is underway, the department has isolated the confirmed positive cases and quarantined the presumptive cases.”