The virus struck in the ranks of prisoners and prison guards.

Ten cases of Covid-19 have been detected in recent days in the Varces remand center, located near Grenoble, the management of the establishment announced Thursday, confirming information from the regional daily

Le Dauphiné Libéré.

Six staff members, out of 160, and five inmates, out of 300, have tested positive in the past seven days, forcing the regional health agency (ARS) to trigger a crisis mechanism to break the chain of contaminations.

Visits possible with hygiaphones

The management has set up a procedure for taking charge of detainees who test positive according to "a reinforced protocol" of placement in quarantine, indicated the head of establishment Valérie Mousseeff.

She said that visiting rooms with families had been maintained thanks to a hygienic device.

“The continuity of the service is ensured while maintaining a high level of health protection for our agents and for the populations treated,” added Ms. Mousseeff.

“There is more appeasement than in March 2020 because the detainees have understood that the prison staff will remain present and mobilized.

Their cause for concern is often more related to the material conditions of detention than to fear of the virus, ”explained the official.

A screening campaign in connection with the Grenoble University Hospital and the ARS was conducted Thursday among 72 inmates of the district of adults, where the cases were detected, in order to increase the chances of breaking the chain of contamination.

Another screening day, extended this time to staff, will also take place this Friday to allow "a precise picture of the situation" and the implementation of "adapted measures".

In 2020, no detainee and member of the prison staff had tested positive in this remand center.

Two first cases had appeared "at the beginning of 2021", but "all the chains of contamination" could have been "contained and broken very quickly, despite the closed environment".

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  • Jail

  • Covid 19

  • epidemic

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  • Health

  • Grenoble