A bus carrying a detainee who was diagnosed with a novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) at the Eastern Detention Center in Seoul is heading for the second prison in Gyeongbuk, Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do. News 1
Concerns about the spread of coronavirus in correctional facilities are growing as 16 of the prisoners transferred from the Seoul East Detention Center to the Seoul Southern Prison have been confirmed to have a novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19).
According to the Ministry of Justice on the 29th, 16 of the prisoners in the southern prison have been confirmed as corona19. These are some of the 85 prisoners who were detained at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center on the 23rd and were transferred to the Southern Prison.
Earlier on the 23rd, the Ministry of Justice transferred 85, 30, and 60 prisoners who were negatively judged twice to Seoul South Prison, Yeoju Prison, and Gangwon North Prison, respectively.
It is reported that the Seoul Southern Prison is planning to test the remaining 69 people who were transferred with them.
An official from the correctional authority explained, “The prisoners transferred from the Seoul Eastern Detention Center were separated from the existing prisoners in the Seoul Southern Prison.” He added, “I think he was an asymptomatic carrier, considering that the diagnosis came out despite the two tests.”
The Ministry of Justice transferred 30 people to Yeoju Prison in addition to Seoul Southern Prison and 60 to Gangwon North Prison. On the previous day, one of the prisoners who were transferred to the Gangwon North Prison was also confirmed.
As more and more cases of detainees deported from the Seoul East Detention Center receive additional confirmations, concerns about the spread of group infection to other correctional facilities are growing.
Reporter Han Young-hye [email protected]