Positive prison COVID cases being moved to Silverwater Correctional Complex

The Network, which looks after health issues within NSW prisons, said it is "working closely with Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) and Youth Justice NSW (YJNSW) to manage positive COVID-19 cases across NSW custodial settings."

"The protocol is to move positive adult COVID-19 cases to a central location at the Silverwater Correctional Complex, where they can be kept separate from the rest of the prison population," the Network spokesperson said.

"Their care can be properly managed and they can be near a tertiary hospital in case it is needed."

Although not commenting on any particular prison location, and not mentioning the South Coast Correctional centre, it is understood a number of inmates have been transferred to South Coast from Parklea prison, which up to Tuesday had recorded almost 50 COVID cases.

Like all jails across the state now, the South Coast Correctional Centre at South Nowra is in lockdown as authorities try to protect the facility from any potential COVID-19 outbreak.

However, it is understood transfers between jails might still be occurring.

The Justice Health spokesperson said the Network is working closely with CSNSW and YJNSW to manage positive COVID-19 cases across NSW custodial settings.

"The Network, CSNSW and YJNSW are testing for COVID-19, isolating cases and contact tracing to detect and isolate close contacts to prevent further transmission," the spokesperson said.

"We are also working together to roll out rapid antigen testing (RAT) across NSW prisons, youth justice centres and police cells to give us a fast and effective way of identifying potential cases.

"The privately managed prisons, such as Parklea Correctional Centre, are responsible for managing their COVID-19 patients locally with assistance from the Network as appropriate.

"Healthcare at Parklea is provided by St Vincent's Correctional Health.

"The Network has been vaccinating staff and patients since March 2021 in line with Commonwealth and NSW public health advice.

"To protect our staff and patients, we are ramping up our vaccination program over the coming weeks."

The spokesperson said to the end of August 41.3 per cent of CSNSW staff were vaccinated with 53.5 per cent having had one dose; 21 per cent of patients in custody were fully vaccinated, while 42 per cent have had one dose; and 75 per cent of Network staff were fully vaccinated and 84 per cent have had one dose.

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"The number of cases at any given centre will fluctuate, because of the movement of prisoners coming into custody, and the policy to move all positive cases from other NSW Corrective Services prisons to Silverwater," the spokesperson said.

While no prison case figures were given in the 11am briefing on Wednesday (September 1), it was revealed on August 31 NSW correctional facilities were all in lockdown after 43 cases of COVID-19 were reported at Parklea Correctional Centre to 8pm Monday night, which had brought the total number of cases since August 18 to 75, including one healthcare worker.

In its statement the Network said 36 of those cases had acquired COVID-19 in the community and were identified as positive when they entered custody.

"These cases are not part of any prison outbreak and have not transmitted the virus to any other inmates or staff members," the spokesperson said.

"The Network takes the health and wellbeing of prisoners extremely seriously and over the last 18 months has prepared so prisoners and staff are protected in the event of an outbreak.

"We quarantine all new arrivals into Corrective Services facilities from the general prison population for 14 days, use comprehensive PPE, and conduct regular symptom screening and testing."