Fresh custody inmate in isolation with COVID-19

30 Jul 2020

Corrective Services NSW has taken all appropriate health and safety measures after an inmate, who came into custody on 26 July, subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 at Parklea Correctional Centre.

The inmate had recently been in Victoria and was arrested for driving offences and bail refused. As with all fresh custodies, he was isolated from the time of his arrest by NSW Police Force and subsequently by CSNSW before his transfer to Parklea.

At Parklea the inmate underwent mandatory COVID-19 testing and has been housed in isolation in Area 6B in accordance with standard protocols for COVID-19 infection control.

Preliminary contact tracing with staff and inmates has confirmed the inmate has not had any close contacts in custody, on being transported, or at Parklea CC since his arrival, in accordance with the isolation protocols.

CSNSW has established Isolation Hubs to safely manage COVID-19 positive inmates separate to other inmates.

This is the first and only confirmed case of COVID-19 among correctional staff or inmates at any NSW correctional facility.

The health and safety of our staff and inmates is our number one priority.

The inmate’s family is being notified.

The area is being forensically cleaned.

Our priority continues to be preventing transmission, managing isolation requirements, keeping staff and inmates safe and continuing to manage our daily operations.

Our correctional centres have robust policies on infection prevention and control, which works to our advantage.