
All of them were lifted from quarantine after treatment of confirmed prisoners in correctional facilities nationwide where more than 1,200 new coronavirus infections (Corona 19) were confirmed. It has been 82 days since the outbreak of group infection from the eastern detention center in Seoul.
On the 5th, the Ministry of Justice said, “All prisoners who were diagnosed with Corona 19 on this day were removed from quarantine.” The Ministry of Justice added, “There have been no additional confirmations of prisoners in the correctional facility since the 7th of last month, and all confirmed prisoners were lifted from quarantine today, including three prisoners in Seoul Southern Prison.”
As of 8 a.m. on that day, the cumulative number of confirmed cases related to correctional facilities (including cured and discharged employees) totaled 1278. Among the inmates, there have been no confirmed cases for a month since one inmate in the southern prison on February 6th.
Justice Minister Park Beom-gye said, “We were able to prevent the spread of Corona 19 in correctional facilities through organic cooperation with the quarantine authorities.”
The Ministry of Justice calmed the spread of the spread by forming a corona 19 response team, distributed transfer, and operating a life treatment center when a group infection occurred after 14 detention center employees were confirmed on December 15 last year. The nationwide correctional facilities were thoroughly inspected and quarantine measures were strengthened, such as extending the quarantine period for newcomers.
However, there were also criticisms of failing to prevent group infection due to initial quarantine. Earlier, the confirmed prisoners and their families filed a lawsuit for compensation for damages against the government and then the Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae.
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