COVID-19 restrictions eased
Key principal: Safety
TL;DR: Stage 4 restrictions remain at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre. Stage 3 restrictions are in place at Woodford Correctional Centre, Wolston Correctional Centre and Borallon Training and Correctional Centre. Stage 2 restrictions are in place at Capricornia, Lotus Glen and Townsville correctional centres.
WIMFM: Thanks to all officers from every part of the organisation who have stepped in to support the safe and secure operations of prisons in recent weeks and for their commitment to their role as the front line of public safety.
Following advice from Queensland Health, we are we now able to relax restrictions at Woodford Correctional Centre, Wolston Correctional Centre, Borallon Training and Correctional Centre; and Escort and Security Branch (Escorts) effective today (4 September).
These centres will revert to Stage 3 restrictions.
There are a small number of prisoners subject to a quarantine notices in Woodford, Wolston and Borallon who must remain quarantined (from other prisoners and staff) until their quarantine period is over, but the majority of prisoners will no longer be in lockdown, and where possible a structured day will be re-implemented.
This is based on advice that there are currently no confirmed COVID-19 cases within the prisoner population nor the officers in these centres.
The recommendation to move these centres originally to stage 4 was out of an abundance of caution given the movement of prisoners between these centres and to give Queensland Health time to gain a clearer picture of the risk to the officers and prisoners in these centres.
It is now clear that as a result of the quick action by QCS and Queensland Health that the risk at these centres has reduced markedly.
This would mean that from today, Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre (AGCC) will be the only centre in Stage 4. If there are no positive tests from prisoners or officers, AGCC is on track to return to Stage 3 at the end of the 14 day quarantine period.
On Queensland Health advice, due to a large public sporting event in North Queensland over the coming weekend, the Capricornia, Lotus Glen and Townsville correctional centres will be moved to Stage 2 restrictions.
This is due to the potential for a large movement of the population from the South East corner of Queensland to North Queensland. It is envisaged that Stage 2 would remain in place until 20 September to allow Queensland Health the time to establish any potential community impact as a result of this event.
We are working our way through this current threat environment, guided by the best advice from the Chief Health Officer and the team at Queensland Health.
Commissioner Martin thanked all officers from every part of the organisation who have stepped in to support the safe and secure operations of prisons in recent weeks.
“We are operating in unprecedented times, and the willingness of our officers to assist and their commitment to public safety is both remarkable and very welcome” he said.
“I am proud to lead an agency which responds so professionally and selflessly to such challenging times.
“Thank you for your commitment to your role as the front line of public safety.”
Changes to the restrictions are covered under the new planning model which was recently developed by the State Corrections Operation Centre (SCOC) for custodial operations and community corrections to ensure QCS responds quickly to new outbreaks in the community.
The model highlights a four-stage approach and relevant policies to implement if the risk of community transmission increases or there is a confirmed COVID-19 case in a QCS facility.
Commissioner Martin said the organisation’s overall recovery approach continued to be flexible and responsive to community developments and local conditions, and was in place to ensure the safety and health of all officers, prisoners and the wider community.
