Prison bosses at HMP Liverpool have put in place a stricter regime following a rise in the number of positive coronavirus cases.
Dozens of court cases at Liverpool Crown Court have been adjourned today because of emergency measures in prison.
The court heard that all inmates at HMP Liverpool, run by Her Majesty's Prison Service, have been told to remain in their cells.
Sodexo Justice Services, who run HMP Forest Bank in Salford, have said they are liaising with the authorities after a small number of positive tests amongst prisoners and officers.
Two men were set to be sentenced this morning for serious wounding offences before Judge Neil Flewitt, QC.
However, when the judge entered court, he said he had been informed of a problem.
Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, said: "From speaking to my learned friends, both of them have been told because of a coronavirus lockdown in Walton, all inmates are being kept in their cells and not even been released to CVP [video link] booths."
Judge Flewitt said: "My 11am case is a defendant who was to be produced from Forest Bank and I was told earlier this morning that he won't be brought because they were in coronavirus lockdown and that they won't take him to the CVP room in Forest Bank."
The court clerk said: "We were told this morning that every Liverpool case that's in the list today won't be going ahead, because they have all been told that they've got to stay in the cells and we won't be linking to any CVP booths."
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Judge Flewitt said: "I've got a list of sentences with people in custody until 3pm this afternoon."
Mr Gibson said: "Had, I think is the operative word."
The court clerk said the issue was not believed to affect HMP Altcourse, the Fazakerely-based Category B men's private prison operated by G4S.
Judge Flewitt said they had "no option" but to adjourn the sentencing until a date next month.
The ECHO understands all cases across Liverpool Crown Court involving defendants being produced in the dock from either HMP Liverpool or Forest Bank will now have to be adjourned, but Walton prison is attempting to facilitate video links.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Our priority is to limit the spread of the virus and protect the lives of those who live and work in our prisons.
"We have taken precautionary measures at Liverpool, in line with public health guidance, and will continue to closely monitor the situation."
A spokesperson for HMP Forest Bank said: "A small number of staff and prisoners on five of the sixteen wings within Forest Bank recently tested positive for COVID-19.
"The current situation is well controlled and under constant review. We continue to liaise with Public Health England and the local authority to limit transmission of the infection and keep staff and prisoners safe.”
