In order to safeguard prisoners at the Corradino Correctional Facility in Paola from COVID-19, prison guards are living at the facility and plans are underway to transfer vulnerable prisoners to a more segregated area, just in case the facility is contaminated, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on this week’s edition of Indepth.

Fearne was being interviewed by The Malta Independent’s Media Consultant Rachel Attard about the plans that the ministry has in store regarding the COVID-19 crisis, including the use of masks by the public and the contingency plan the ministry has for postponed medical appointments.

Another topic that came up during the interview were the precautionary measures that are being taken at the Corradino Correctional Facility since it is quite crowded at the moment, which makes it almost impossible to practice social distancing regulations. 

Fearne said that he is working in close quarters with Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri on this subject.

“We have introduced a number of strict measures, so much so that guards are living at the prison so that they do not have to continuously leave and enter the prison which would increase the chances of introducing the virus into the establishment,” he explained.

He added that there are also discussions underway regarding those prisoners who fit in the vulnerable category which are at higher risk of experiencing complications if they contract the virus.

“As we have done at the Ħal Far open centre, we are planning to have vulnerable individuals transferred from the prison to a more segregated area which will reduce their chance of contracting the virus.”

The full interview will be published tomorrow.