SA prison virus cases reach 654, as Eastern Cape remains a worry

The Department of Correctional Services recorded 654 positive Covid-19 cases on Tuesday evening, an increase of 49 since Monday morning.

This included 199 officials and 455 inmates, with recoveries standing at 123, the department said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Results of inmates who were tested at SADA [prison] in the Eastern Cape recorded an increase of 34 positive cases.

“This is one of the areas receiving attention from the provincial Department of Health as Chris Hani District has been classified as one of the epicentres in the Eastern Cape,” spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said.

Breakdown

The Eastern Cape, an area of concern for the prisons system, recorded 460 cases, which included 61 officials, 399 inmates, two deaths and 71 recoveries.

The Western Cape has 170 cases in its prisons, with 123 officials, 42 inmates. It has two deaths and 48 recoveries.

Gauteng has recorded 16 cases, with seven officials, nine inmates and two recoveries.

Limpopo has two cases of officials infected with Covid-19 and one recovery.

In the Northern Cape, two officials have been infected with the virus.

One official has been infected in the Free State, as well as two officials in KwaZulu-Natal.

In the department’s head office, one official has been infected and one has recovered.

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