Spike in Covid-19 at Western Cape prisons
Prisons in the Western Cape have recorded a sharp increase in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases.
Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo says eight prison officials and one inmate have tested positive for the virus.
“We had nine cases in the Western Cape, which is where we had the largest increase. These are mainly in Worcester and Warmbokkeveld.”
The latest increase takes the total number of infected persons in the province’s prisons to 32.
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Nationally the department stood at 129 on Monday.
The virus is also making its presence felt in Gauteng, where an awaiting-trial prisoner at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre tested positive.
Another official in the Eastern Cape, which is the epicentre of the outbreak in prisons, has also tested positive for the deadly virus.
Nxumalo says the process of screening and testing will continue.
The total number of Covid-19 cases recorded in the country now stands at 4793, while the number of deaths is at 90.