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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Estel Farell Roig

HMP Bristol being 'closely monitored' after coronavirus cases

HMP Bristol is being "closely monitored" after a number of positive coronavirus cases, the prison service has said.

Earlier this month, the prison service confirmed a number of positive coronavirus cases at the prison in Horfield - but isn't releasing an exact number.

This came after a court heard a wing at HMP Bristol was reported to be under lockdown - but a spokeswoman for the MOJ said there was no major outbreak at the jail, other than "one or two" cases.

At the time, a source contacted Bristol Live claiming there were at least 12 staff members who had tested positive for coronavirus at the prison in Horfield, with around 30 to 40 self-isolating, as well as at least 15 prisoners.

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A second source has now contacted BristolLive claiming 100 prison officers are now having to isolate at HMP Bristol, and that "many prisoners" had tested positive for coronavirus.

In response to this, the Prison Service has issued the following statement: “We have taken precautionary measures at Bristol and Portland following a number of positive cases, in line with public health guidance, and will continue to closely monitor the situation.”

The source claimed that prisoners at Horfield were being transferred down to Portland prison in Dorset, where they had now started to see positive cases of covid-19 too as they were not requiring prisoners from Horfield to isolate for 14 days.

BristolLive understands Horfield prison is continuing to run as normal but that additional support has been brought in to assist staff.

HMP Bristol has a capacity of 505 and governor James Lucas has been in charge since July 2019.

The prison was originally built in 1883, but there have been numerous additions, extensions and renovations since then.

It serves the courts of Bristol and the South West and most prisoners remain at Bristol for less than 12 months.

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