[Updated] Prisons officer on sick leave tests positive for covid19

OUT of an abundance of caution, the Prisons Administration Building in Port of Spain will be sanitised and remained closed until Tuesday, as a prisons officer, who visited the headquarters last week, has tested positive for covid19.

On Saturday, Prisons Commissioner Dennis Pulchan said the officer adhered to covid19 protocols and had on a mask when he was in the building, but the service needed to take precaution against the spread of the virus among prisons officers and inmates. In a post on the Prisons Service Facebook page on Saturday, Pulchan said he ordered the evacuation and closure of the building on Phillip Street, after learning that an officer had the virus.

The officer, who was on extended sick leave, prior to the visit, is assisting the Ministry of Health with contact tracing. Pulchan, whose office is at the building, said he was not there on Thursday and Friday, one of the days the officer visited. Pulchan urged officers who have flu-like symptoms, not to report for duty, but inform their supervisors and seek medical attention.

To quell concerns that the virus may have spread to the prisons, Pulchan said: “To date, the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service has maintained a covid19 free environment as a stringent policy was prepared and adopted from the onset of the pandemic. It will continue to adhere to these measures to keep all persons safe and secure.”

On Saturday morning, there were four new positive cases taking the total to 173.

Prisons Officers Association PRO Gerard Gordon, on Saturday, said not only were prisons officers concerned but prisoners as well.

"This is of grave concern not just for us but the service on a whole. Unlike the general population, where physical distancing is available, inside the prisons, we don't have that luxury. There is already a number of measures in place to assure that it does not get inside the prisons."

Gordon said he supports "erring on the side of extreme caution" even if it means officers who have sinus miss work, agreeing with Pulchan that those with flu-like symptoms should stay away from work and seek medical attention.

He said he was unsure what more can be done as preventative measures as prisons officers are wearing masks, undergo thermal scanning on entry and sanitisation where necessary.

"There is no easy answer to this. It is scary and we are doing the best we can to adhere to the advice of the health care professionals."

On March 17, prisoners at the Golden Grove Prison in Arouca, protested over fears that the virus could enter the already poorly sanitised and over populated prison. Prisoners live-streamed the riot on Facebook. The protest led to the relocation of 240 prisoners to a new section of the prison. Twelve were injured while being subdued or re-captured after escaping from the building. One prisoner was shot in the leg and two senior prisons officers were injured with one sustaining a broken jaw.

Pulchan said then the riot had nothing to do with covid19 concerns which was a ruse to escape.

This story has been updated with additional details. Below is the original story.

ACTING Prisons Commissioner Dennis Pulchan on Saturday ordered the immediate evacuation and closure of the Prisons Administration Building on Phillip Street, Port of Spain after an officer tested positive for covid19.

According to post on the Prison Services’ Facebook page, contact tracing has begun for the officer. The building will remain closed until it is sanitised while staff are advised to stay home until further notice. The prisons officer, who was on extended sick leave prior to contracting the virus, visited the building recently to update his superiors.

Pulchan is urging that any officer who may be displaying flu-like symptoms, should not report for duty, but inform their immediate supervisor and seek medical attention.

To quell fear that the virus may have spread to the prisons, Pulchan said: “To date, the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service has maintained a covid19 free environment as a stringent policy was prepared and adopted from the onset of the pandemic. It will continue to adhere to these measures to keep all persons safe and secure.”

On Saturday morning, there were four new positive cases taking the total to 173.