COVID-19 cases at Dodds are up

There has been a spike in COVID-19 cases at Dodds.

This was confirmed by Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Wilfred Abrahams who told Barbados TODAY that authorities were closely monitoring the situation.

Abrahams, however, did not reveal how many cases had been identified at the St Philip penal institution.

“The prison is a subset of Barbados…What happens in the general population will eventually be reflected in the prison community. The prison has COVID-19 protocols that are employed and have been previously employed to great effect where instances of COVID-19 have been detected in the inmate population or among the staff. 

“At present I can confirm that we are monitoring the situation occasioned by some positive COVID-19 test results and we are applying the required measures to contain and manage any spread,” Abrahams told Barbados TODAY.

Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams

 

The alarm that all was not well within the prison was raised this morning when none of the inmates on remand at HMP Dodds made an appearance in either High Court or Magistrates’ Court.

Several High Court judges informed judicial officers that inmates would not be coming to court because of an outbreak at the prison.

It meant several cases had to be adjourned as a result.

Back in January, 2021, there was a major COVID-19 outbreak at HMP Dodds, in what was declared a “crisis situation”.

At its peak, the cluster at the prison totaled 363 infected persons. This number included 85 prison officers, 261 inmates and 17 staff members.

The outbreak was brought under control in three weeks. During that time there was a complete lockdown of the facility with no one allowed to leave or enter the premises. (randybennett@barbadostoday.bb)