The Ministry of Justice is implementing the 3rd step of social distancing at correctional facilities two weeks before today (31st) to block the spread of Corona 19 from the Seoul Eastern Detention Center (hereinafter referred to as the Eastern Detention Center).
Lee Yong-gu, vice minister of the Ministry of Justice, held a briefing on the current situation and countermeasures of group infection in correctional facilities at the Seoul Government Complex this morning, unveiling such measures.
Upgrading social distancing in correctional facilities to three steps is a measure to minimize contact between prisoners in dense spaces.
Compared to the current 2.5-stage distance for the metropolitan area and the second-stage distance for the non-metropolitan areas, this is a more reinforced measure.
Accordingly, interviews with prisoners, work, and education for two weeks until the 13th of the following month are completely suspended, and interviews with lawyers are also limited depending on the situation.
The correctional facility staff maintains an emergency work system, and outside activities are prohibited in principle.
Measures are also taken to relieve the overcrowding of correctional facilities, including the Eastern Detention Center.
First of all, the Ministry of Justice is considering a plan to transfer additional prisoners to other institutions in order to lower the acceptance density (acceptance rate of 116.6% compared to the capacity) at the eastern detention center where group infected persons came from.
Earlier, on the 19th, the Ministry of Justice distributed 175 prisoners who were negatively judged in the Dongbu Detention Center to Seoul Southern Prison, Yeoju Prison, and Gangwon North Prison.
On the 28th, 345 confirmed cases were transferred to North Gyeongsangbuk-do 2nd Prison (Cheongsong Prison).
The Ministry of Justice is also planning to expand parole for labor prisoners, those with underlying diseases that can worsen seriously, and model prisoners.
In order to prevent further spread by asymptomatic patients, we also decided to conduct rapid antigen testing on all employees and prisoners.
We decided to strengthen treatment for confirmed patients by establishing correctional facilities and life treatment centers in the community.
The Ministry of Justice cited the cause of the spread of infection in the eastern detention center: ▲ The structure of the facilities connected to the five buildings in the form of high-rise buildings and each floor, and poor ventilation facilities ▲ high-density accommodation environment ▲ failure to predict the possibility of infection due to no symptoms.
"The Ministry of Justice has tried to prevent the spread of Corona 19 in correctional facilities that are susceptible to infection, but this situation occurred due to the limitations of the prisons and the lack of preemptive quarantine measures," said Vice Minister Lee. "I apologize to the people." .
He continued, "The Ministry of Justice will strengthen quarantine and inspection in correctional facilities to prevent further infection from occurring, and will do its best to stabilize the current situation."
(Photo = Yonhap News)