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<p>COVID-19 testing is ongoing in prisons and is being conducted by internal or external
healthcare practitioners on some symptomatic prisoners on site. The testing capacity
is dependent on local commissioning services, therefore the numbers of those tested
varies by establishment. However, prisoners that require hospital care are being transferred
to hospital and may also be tested there. We are working with the Department of Health
and Social Care to consider next steps for testing in prisons.</p><p>As of 17:00 on
Sunday 17 May, 411 prisoners and 540 prison staff members have tested positive for
COVID-19. This is an accumulative total and does not represent the number of live
cases. Some of those that previously tested positive will have now made a full recovery.</p><p>Sadly,
as of Friday 15 May, 21 prisoners and 8 members of prison staff have died. These figures
represent cases where it was known that the individual had tested positive for the
virus. It is a matter for coroners to determine a cause of death.</p><p>HM Prison
and Probation Service (HMPPS) is containing the spread of COVID-19 within jails using
an approach known as ‘compartmentalisation’. Through this approach, staff have isolated
those with symptoms, and many prisons have been able to shield the vulnerable and
quarantine new arrivals. Modelling by HMPPS and Public Health England indicates that
jails are successfully limiting deaths and the transmission of the virus within the
estate.</p>
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