COVID-19 Preparedness and Response in Prison Facilities

Introduction

Purpose of the note

Disclaimer

Format Title Audience Use in

1 Checklist Preparing for COVID-19 at your Prison Share with prison

prison facility administration / administration /
management management

2 Poster COVID-19 general information All Place around the

prison including at
main entrance,
admissions rooms,
prisoner
accommodation
and recreation
areas

3 Poster Basic precautionary measures All Place around the

against COVID-19 prison including at
main entrance,
admissions rooms,
prisoners
accommodation
and recreation
areas

4 Pocket card Prison staff precautionary Prison staff Share with prison
measures against COVID-19 staff

5 Poster Prisoners precautionary Prisoners Placed in prisoner

measures against COVID-19 accommodation
and recreation
areas

6 Poster Visitors personal precautionary Visitors Briefing provided

measures against COVID-19 to visitors if
visitation is
allowed / posters
placed at main
entrance and in
visitation area

7 Briefing note Communicating the impact of Prison Share with prison

COVID-19 to prison staff administration / administration /
management management
 8 Briefing note Communicating the impact of Prison staff Share at staff
COVID-19 to prisoners meetings and with
prison staff

9 Checklist Responding to outbreak of Prison Share at staff

COVID-19 in your prison administration / meetings and with
management / prison staff
staff

10 Checklist Managing prisoners with Prison Share at staff

suspected / confirmed COVID- administration / meetings and with
19 at the prison facility management / prison staff
staff

The guide is available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Sango, Swahili, Lingala, Dinka, Nuer, Shiluk,
Somali, Bambara and Kinyarwanda.
1. Preparing for COVID-19 at your prison facility

Prison administration

● Establish a separate emergency registry for all people coming in and out from the facility
(including prison staff / visitors / vendors / service providers)

(A sample format for the registry is provided at the end of the checklist)

● Know your prison population:

○ Risk groups

Facility

● Increase frequency of cleaning routines within the facility:

○ Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched - especially
in common areas

○ Clean and disinfect also objects / surfaces not ordinarily cleaned (e.g. cell
doors / bars, doorknobs, light switches, sink handles, countertops, toilets, toilet
handles, recreation equipment, kiosks and telephones)

● Install washing stations within and outside the facility

● Ensure proper ventilation for instance by removing obstacles from windows and doors

● Identify spaces for screening of prison staff / incoming prisoners and detainees / visitors
and external people

● Identify spaces for isolation of COVID-19 suspected / confirmed cases within the facility /
if not possible, consider temporary solutions (i.e. tents)

External support / partners

● Map out partners (including …)

● Establish a close contact with Ministry of Health

● If within your authority, consider early release of prisoners

● Consult with relevant authorities the releasing of those convicted on less serious lesser
crimes (provide matrix suggested by the justice group)

● Discuss with relevant authorities non-custodial measures

● Discuss with relevant authorities mobile courts (to avoid transportation)

● Discuss with vendors on the continuity or bulk purchase of food, water, medication,
soaps/disinfectants and other necessary supplies

Personnel

● Communicate with prison staff the impact of COVID-19 on regular prison routines

● Ensure prison staff has all the necessary information / fully understand the situation

● Prepare for staff shortage:

 ○ Advise staff not to come to work if they have symptoms

○ Assign staff to a specific group of prisoners / detainees to limit possible

spreading of disease

○ Limit staff that work directly with suspected / confirmed cases

○ Limit staff contact with other tasks

○ Revise tasks of staff belonging to risk groups / limit contact with inmates and
other staff

● Prepare for prisoners / detainees unrests / riots (due to limitations imposed)

Prisoners

● Communicate with prisoners / detainees the impact of COVID-19 on regular prison

routines (including visits). Stress the importance of protecting their health and their
family and community members’ health

● Consider reducing the number of prisoners gathering in groups, attempt to reduce

movement of prisoners and avoid mixing individuals from different prisoner groups. This
may require:

○ Re-organize rehabilitation activities / vocational training / work

○ Re-organize religious services

○ Re-organize recreational activities

○ Re-organize inmate transfers (internal / external)

○ Re-organize outdoor time in shifts / limit mixing the different sections

● Observe and register any symptoms at least twice a day (opening and closing)

○ No symptoms no suspected contact

○ No symptoms suspected contact

○ Symptoms

○ Confirmed Infected

Visitors (including vendors / service providers)

● Communicate with visitors the impact of COVID-19 on regular prison visits

● Consider limiting physical visits and consider other means of communication with visitors,
service providers etc.

● Provide access to virtual / telephone visits options. If moving to virtual / telephone visits,
clean electronic surfaces regularly

● Communicate with the visitors and discourage physical contact / visits in the interest of
their own health and the health of their family members and community

● If visitors bring food, clothing or medication to prisoners, ensure there is an accountable

process to safely accept, disinfect if possible and distribute to prisoners
 ● Put in place screening processes - verbal screening (for COVID-19 symptoms and close
contact with cases) and temperature checks for all visitors, volunteers, vendors and
service providers on entry

● Any person showing symptoms of COVID-19 or refusing to have their temperature taken
should NOT be allowed to enter the prison

● Establish a registry for all people coming in and out from the facility

● Set up a wash station for visitors in entrances, exits and waiting areas

● Set up the space for visits to allow sufficient distance (2 meters) between prisoners /
visitors

Equipment / supplies

● List equipment / supplies needed to contain COVID-19 spread (see below)

● Identify equipment providers / supply chains

● Foresee specific protection gear and routines for sensitive areas (reception, medical
facilities, kitchen, laundry, etc.)

● Consider using the prison industry to produce masks and other useful equipment

● Prepare for provision of food and water to prisoners

PPE / supplies needed to contain COVID-19 spread

● Standard medical supplies for daily clinic needs, such as:

○ ….

● Tissues

● Liquid soap when possible / if bar soap must be used, ensure that it does not irritate the
skin and thereby discourage frequent hand washing

● Hand drying supplies

● Alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol (where permissible based
on security restrictions)

● Cleaning supplies, chlorine wash, disinfectant

● Facemasks (see below low-cost alternatives)

● Eye protection

● Disposable medical gloves

● Disposable gowns / one-piece coveralls

Annex: sample format of the registry

Name Surname Contact info / Category Entry time Exit time Screening
Phone
number
2. COVID-19 General Information

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus, which has not been previously identified
inhumans. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses found in both animals and humans.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

In most cases, COVID-19 causes mild symptoms including a runny nose, sore throat, cough and
fever. It can be more severe for some people and can lead to pneumonia or breathing difficulties.
In some cases, infection can lead to death.

How does COVID-19 spread?

COVID-19 appears to spread most easily through close contact with an infected person (within 1
meter). When someone who has COVID-19 coughs or sneezes, small droplets are released and,
if you are too close, you can breathe in the virus.

A person may become infected also by touching contaminated surfaces or objects, and then
touching their eyes, nose or mouth (e.g. a person may touch a doorknob or shake hands and
then touch their own face). This is why environmental disinfection is so important.

Who is most at risk?

We still need to learn more about how COVID-19 affects people. Older people, and people with
other medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, appear to be more at risk of
developing severe disease.

What is the treatment for COVID-19?

There is no currently available treatment or vaccine for COVID-19. However, many of the
symptoms can be treated.

How will this impact the prison?

There will likely be temporary modification to regular procedures and routines. This may include
mandatory screening for all persons entering the prison; restricted or canceled activities,
programmes and services for prisoners; reduced interaction between staff and prisoners;
emergency isolation areas established with strict rules to follow in regards health and hygiene
and physical space.
3. Basic precautionary measures against COVID-19

● Wash hands with soap and water often and particularly before eating and before and
after visiting the bathroom.

● Don’t touch your eyes, nose, mouth with your hands.

Hands touch many surfaces which can be contaminated with the virus. If you touch your eyes,
nose or mouth with your unclean hands, you can transfer the virus from the surface to yourself.

● Keep physical distance of at least 2 meters to other people (if possible) and avoid non-
essential physical contact - particularly if the person is coughing, sneezing or has fever.

● If you cough or sneeze, do so into the bend of your elbow, not your hand. Immediately
wash your hands with soap and water. This way you protect others from the virus.

● If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or observe others with symptoms, inform the
prison administration immediately and seek medical care.

● Keep calm and follow written and verbal instructions issued by the prison staff.
4. Prison staff precautionary measures against COVID-19

● Communicate with prisoners, using vocal commands / providing verbal direction from a
distance instead of using physical contact. Explain by showing / demonstrating

● Limit direct contact with prisoners if possible, conduct visual searches on low-risk
prisoners

● Provide verbal and body language direction for low-risk escorts

● Don’t approach or stand directly in-front of prisoners, reduce the risk of prisoners
coughing or breathing directly on you

● If you need to physically handle/direct prisoners, wear gloves if possible or wash your
hands immediately after if no gloves are available

● Do prisoner counts from a distance if possible

● Do not conduct area searches without gloves. If no gloves are available, limit touching
areas and ensure you wash immediately after searching

● Ensure at least one meter distance between you and the prisoner when interviewing,
counselling, admitting, or discharging prisoners. If in an office, use the desk and chairs to
create distance

● Clean your equipment several times a day with disinfectant - if available (including radio,
phone, handcuff, handcuff keys, etc.)

● Increase vigilance, observe and interact with inmates to get more information about
possible symptoms of disease and signs of unrest among inmates
5. Prisoners precautionary measures against COVID-19

● Your health and safety is important

● Any restrictions, limitations, or cancellations of regular programmes and activities are

temporary and for the health and safety of everyone, including your family and
community

● Follow the generic precautionary measures posted on the walls

● Follow the instructions / orders issued by the prison administration / prison staff

● If your visitors bring food, clothing and medication, ask prison staff to clarify the process
for visitors to drop off such items

● Ask if there are any means of communicating with your family

● Don’t cover your windows and cell door, encourage airflow to ventilate

● If you feel ill or see another prisoner with symptoms, keep your distance and report to a
prison staff immediately

● If you or your dormitory/cell run out of cleaning supplies / PPE, ask a prison staff for more

● If you have any questions, ask prison staff!

6. Visitors / vendors / service providers precautionary measures against COVID-19

● COVID-19 has disrupted regular access into the prison. The health and well-being of the
prison population is our priority.

● The regular visit routine may be temporarily modified, please listen to and respect the
instructions of the prison staff

● All visitors will be subject to COVID-19 screening: if you demonstrate symptoms or refuse
screening, you will not be allowed to enter

● Please keep a distance of 2one meters from other visitors while waiting to be screened at
the entrance

● If you bring items for a family member and visits have been suspended due to COVID-19,
ask the staff to clarify how to leave the process for leaving the items for persons in the
prison

● If visits are suspended, ask a prison officer if there are other means of communicating
with the family
7. Communicating the impact of COVID-19 to prison staff
(briefing note)

Message

● COVID-19 is a serious virus that needs to be taken seriously

● The prison administration is doing everything possible to protect all staff, prisoners and
visitors

● If you are showing symptoms of the virus (fever, cough, shortness of breath etc - add), do
not come to work but contact the prison director or designate. Self quarantine yourself
for 14 days to protect your family. Contact a health center / nurse / doctor if possible

● The prison’s regular routines may / will temporarily change in order to protect everyone
from this virus getting into the prison and impacting our staff

● Prisoners will be informed of the changes to the regular routine. Changes are
implemented to protect them from the virus. Communicate with prisoners and reinforce
this message if asked

● Restrictive measures (lack of movement, restricted ability to socialize in groups,

limited/cancelled visitation) may cause frustration and anxiety amongst prisoners, explain
that restrictive measures (such as reduced or cancelled visits) are put in place to protect
them and their family members

● Monitor the prisoner population, identify and report immediately if there is any prisoner
unrest, aggressive protest or any violent behaviour

● Safety and security is paramount during this time, however, this is best achieved by
communicating with prisoners, respecting their dignity and understanding their frustration
during this time

How to transfer the message

(add from Claudia’s note)

8. Communicating the impact of COVID-19 to prisoners / detainees

Message

● COVID-19 is a serious virus that needs to be taken seriously

● The prison administration is doing everything possible to protect you

● Measures are temporary. The more we comply with the instruction provided by the prison
administration, the quicker the situation will be resolved

● If you are showing symptoms of the virus (fever, cough, shortness of breath etc - add),
contact prison staff and follow instructions

● The prison’s regular routines may / will temporarily change in order to protect everyone
from this virus getting into the prison and impacting you

How to transfer the message

(add from Claudia’s note)

9. Responding to outbreak of COVID-19 in your prison

● Isolate suspected cases

● Have the prisoner cover mouth with mask or bandana while being escorted away from
others

● Contact health authorities to decide if the infected should be moved to another health
facility

● Proceed with preventive isolation of all known contacts (according to COVID-19

categorisation)

● To the extent possible, don’t put suspected cases with confirmed cases

● Clean the cell of the infected inmate thoroughly. Use at least soap and water

● Minimise the number of staff in contact with infected inmates - particularly staff belonging
to risk groups
10. Managing prisoners with suspected / confirmed COVID-19 at the prison facility

● As soon as an individual develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should wear a face

mask (if it does not restrict breathing) and should be immediately placed in isolation in a
separate space from other individuals

● If you have limited space at the prison and can’t move prisoners around, consider
contacting a local health facility or consider procuring tents that can be set up in the
recreation area

● Keep the individual’s movement outside the medical isolation space to an absolute
minimum

● Ensure that the individual is wearing a face protection at all times when outside of the
medical isolation space, and whenever another individual enters. Masks should be
changed at least daily, and when visibly soiled or wet.

● During isolation, the isolated person should be under medical observation at least twice a
day, including taking body temperature and checking for symptoms of COVID-19
infection, i.e.

● Facilities should make every possible effort to place suspected COVID-19 cases under
medical isolation individually. Grouping should only be practiced if there are no other
available options

● If grouping is necessary, attempt to separate confirmed cases (tested) from suspected

cases (showing symptoms). Ensure everyone wears face protection and attempt to have
all prisoners respect the one meter standard

● Prison staff should be designated to monitor these individuals exclusively where possible
and these staff should be given priority for the use of PPE

● Maintain medical isolation until all the following criteria have been met:

○ For individuals who have been tested to determine if they are still contagious:

■ The individual has been free from fever for at least 72 hours without the
use of fever-reducing medications AND

■ The individual’s other symptoms have improved (e.g., cough, shortness

of breath) AND

■ The individual has tested negative in at least two consecutive respiratory

specimens collected at least 24 hours apart

○ For individuals who have NOT been tested to determine if they are still
contagious:

■ The individual has been free from fever for at least 72 hours without the
use of fever-reducing medications AND

■ The individual’s other symptoms have improved (e.g., cough, shortness

of breath) AND

■ At least 7 days have passed since the first symptoms appeared

● If a prisoner/detainee who is a COVID-19 case is released from custody during their
medical isolation period, contact public health to arrange for safe transport and
continuation of necessary medical care and medical isolation as part of release planning