NSW prisons go into lockdown, Junee inmates in isolation

On Monday morning, four of the state's correctional centres were impacted, with Bathurst's jail in lockdown after several staff members tested positive to COVID-19 and more than 30 cases were connected to Parklea Correctional Centre.

The Parklea cases also prompted lockdowns at Cessnock and Shortland prisons on Sunday.

But, on Monday afternoon Corrective Services NSW put all of the state's prisons into lockdown to try and stem the outbreak.

A spokeswoman said that Corrective Services NSW had effectively managed COVID-19 risks and prevented transmission of the virus between inmates and staff.

"But like hospitals, schools, aged care facilities and police stations and with the significant number of cases in the community and the transmissibility of the Delta strain, COVID-19 has now entered our correctional system," she said.

"All NSW prisons are continuing to take extra precautions after inmates, who may have been exposed to the virus, were recently transferred out of Parklea Correctional Centre.

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"We are introducing rapid antigen screening across the state for staff and inmates to boost our frontline defences."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from The GEO Group Australia, which runs the Junee Correctional Centre, confirmed three inmates had recently been transferred from Parklea Correctional Centre.

"All three inmates were isolated and tested for COVID-19 and have returned negative results," they said.

They will remain in isolation and undergo further COVID-19 tests over the next 14 days.

"GEO continues to follow the expert advice of NSW Health and work closely with Corrective Services NSW on COVID-19 management protocols."

At Junee, some of the measures include screening all staff before they enter the facility and ensuring they wear appropriate personal protective equipment.

Any fresh custody inmates are screened and tested by Junee medical staff. Then they are, on health advice, quarantined for 14 days to help reduce the risk of the virus being introduced into our facilities.

They are tested again on day 12 of their quarantine and are not released into the main prison population until a negative result is received.

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