A serving prisoner at one of Liverpool's major jails has detailed what life is like during lockdown - with high levels of frustration and pockets of rising violence.
Strict new rules have been enforced inside all jails across the UK, including HMP Altcourse, where the inmate is currently housed.
In a long account, the prisoner said there has been a 47% rise in violence since the tougher regime was introduced.
And he has described how they are locked in their cell for 23 hours and 15 minutes every day, with 45 minutes for other activities.
Previous to Covid-19, this prisoner said he was able to spent 11 hours outside his cell, taking advantage of education and work opportunities.
The significantly changed regime has understandably led to an increase in tensions and mood in the Category B facility, in Fazakerley.
The prisoner told the ECHO: "We are now open for 45 minutes a day.
"However, this has caused a 47% increase in violence around the jail due to the frustration inmates now suffer.
"A message was recently put on the Custodial Management System stating if this violence does not decrease, we will go back to 30 minute unlocks.
"The increase in violence is purely from frustration of how we are being treated."
Altcourse bosses, while acknowledging the rise, say it remains relatively low, with 10 incidents in April and 23 in May.
They are working to address the increase, they say, brought on by boredom with their cellmate, or their social bubble of 12, for the very short period they leave their cell.
There have been three prison custody deaths on Merseyside from coronavirus, all of them from Altcourse, but since early April, there have been no new, positive cases of the virus, bosses said.
Inmates have spoken of guards and staff not wearing personal protective equipment, but the jail is understood to be following Public Health England guidelines to wear PPE only when dealing with people shielding or those displaying symptoms.
The prisoner said: "My brother, like many other families, have emailed the prison and had no reply from them that then has people outside worrying.
"This is causing frustration among inmates as morale is at an all time low and accumulates in violence when cries and pleas are being ignored....
"...visits are obviously cancelled at the minute, so phone contact is our only contact.
"So, with having to support our poor diets, and maintain family contacts, many prisoners are left with nothing, and our families who want to help are being refused."
The prisoner complained of the standard of food with a hot meal at lunch, and a cold one at dinner, claiming it was "of poor standard.....on one day [it] is chicken Kiev and jacket potato with gravy..."
He added: We will then be given a cold meal for dinner, consisting of a baguette or salad - we are left hungry and then have to buy food from the canteen to top up our diets.
"But we can only order one per item, we have been given no vitamins."
Comfort packs, with biscuits and a drink, are still delivered each evening, and hot water for drinks is available four times a day.
The inmate added: "I, like most other inmates, choose to use my now 45 minutes to clean my cell and shower fill water bottles and use the Custodial Management System, this means i have to miss out on the sun and vitamin D."
Altcourse management say they encourage prisoners to use their 45 minutes to go outdoors to exercise, or get a shower, adding how prisoners do still leave their cells to collect meals, hot drinks and medication.
Legal and healthcare visits are allowed, and some prisoners considered "essential" remain working.
At Brookfield Drive, Covid-19 updates are posted through cell doors every Friday, with other information from Public Health England and the NHS also passed to them, bringing it to a total of around three times a week.
There have been supply chain issue affecting the prison shop, where additional food and clothing can be bought, and there are restrictions on the types of flavour pot noodles that can be purchased.
An order of 600 kettles has been delayed to Altcourse, and while some prisoners have complained about family members' efforts to deliver items like head shavers, radios and DVD players, they are routinely refused as they represent a risk, and may be used to smuggle in drugs or phones.
Inmates get £5 phone credit a week to stay in touch with loved ones - who can top this up if necessary - and a dedicated phone line established to let family members ask for welfare checks on prisoners.
Wages are still being paid even though most people are not working.
Mental provision on site remains the same, Altcourse said, and the director and deputy director walks across the whole complex twice a week, although some inmates say they don't see them.
Vulnerable prisoners see a key worker each week, with a welfare mentor on every unit, which was requested by prisoners.
Signs are in place reminding prisoners and staff to social distance, where possible, and deliveries of permitted items from Argos to inmates is hoped to be back up and running soon, albeit slow.
The prisoner who contacted the ECHO cited an incident where an inmate self-harmed and the ambulance took four hours to arrive, but that is understood not to be any fault on the part of Altcourse.
Steve Williams, director of HMP Altcourse, said: "The health and safety of the people in our care is paramount, and we continue to follow all national guidance on best practice, as well as implementing other initiatives focused on mental health and keeping prisoners connected with their loved ones during this unusual time.
"These changes to our regime have allowed us to minimise the spread of the virus, and while we understand how these restrictions have affected the men and their families, we are grateful for their understanding."
