The number of positive coronavirus cases in Scottish prisons has risen to eight as dozens more prisoners are in isolation.
In a statement the Scottish Prison Service confirmed the numbers this evening and said a total of 94 individuals are self-isolating across 10 prisons – eight of whom have confirmed Covid-19.
It's understood the number of confirmed cases is a rise of two after confirmed cases at HMP Addiewell.
The statement announced that a further number of individuals at one establishment are now self-isolating.
The statement said: “Today, as a precautionary measure and on the advice of health professionals, a number of individuals within one establishment are now self-isolating.
“These individuals are not presenting with any symptoms but have been in proximity to individuals who are symptomatic.”
It is understood that prisoners are in isolation as the SPS has adopted a policy of isolating whole halls when prisoners show symptoms.
Following the release of the figures, Justice Minister Humza Yousaf tweeted that the rise in inmates self-isolating was a "precautionary measure" following advice from health experts.
It comes after it was announced yesterday that a second Scottish prisoner had died of coronavirus.
Francis McCarthy, 59, - who had convictions for stabbing two men to death - was serving a life sentence at HMP Low Moss in East Dunbartonshire.
His death was the second to be linked to coronavirus in Scottish prisons after sex-offender John Angus, 66, died last week after contracting the virus.
A SPS spokesperson said: “The safety and wellbeing of those living and working in our prisons is a priority for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).
“We are working with the Scottish Government, Health Protection Scotland, our NHS colleagues and a range of other partners on a daily basis to manage the unprecedented challenges we are all now facing.
“The SPS has robust pandemic plans in place which are implemented on a phased basis in response to escalation demands.
“We continue to follow the advice from the Chief Medical Officer, which means that anyone in our care who displays symptoms of the virus will be asked to self-isolate, as well as those how may have been in contact with that individual.”
