Reply of the Correctional Services Bureau to an enquiry by a member of the public (2020-02-06)

• Over the years, the Correctional Services Bureau has always ascribed great importance to the sanitation of its facilities; it has a series of cleaning and infectious disease control guidelines and an adequate stock of infectious disease prevention equipment in place to protect the health and safety of inmates, juvenile delinquents and the staff.
• In 2003, the Bureau established the "Epidemic Prevention and Response Team", which is responsible for collecting the latest information about infectious diseases; monitoring the sanitation of Coloane Prison and the Youth Correctional Institution; periodically inspecting the stock of the disease prevention items in the Prison; maintaining communication with the Health Bureau and periodically updating the relevant guidelines and measures and the mechanisms for joint operations;  in response in the event of special cases or cluster of infectious diseases in the community, activating the corresponding measures; and, in the event of cluster of infectious diseases at the Prison or the Institution, immediately notifying the Health Bureau and adopting corresponding measures according to the guidelines for follow-up actions.
• In the event of special cases or cluster of infectious diseases in the community, the Bureau will activate corresponding measures in response to the situation in the community, including:  suspending indoor activities of inmates and juvenile delinquents; requiring all individuals in contact with inmates or juvenile delinquents to wear a surgical mask; requiring all inmates and juvenile delinquents leaving the cell or bedroom to wear a surgical mask and receive a body temperature test; and suspending all visiting services, etc. All such measures aim to prevent the spread of infectious diseases or epidemics and ensure the health of inmates, juvenile delinquents and staff members. Moreover, the Bureau has a team of medical professionals working round the clock to follow up on the health statuses of inmates and juvenile delinquents in a timely manner.
• As part of the ongoing efforts against the epidemic of novel coronavirus, the Bureau has issued a series of public announcements: starting 8 January, all individuals entering the cell area must wear a mask; all individuals entering the visit area to meet with an inmate must wear a mask and receive a body temperature test; individuals found having a fever will not be allowed to pay the visit to the inmate. As for the cleaning of the Prison and the Institution: on top of the usual mandatory cleaning and sanitation efforts, epidemic prevention procedures are also strengthened, such as cleaning all cell areas, prisoner vehicles and other public facilities with disinfectant at three specified times every day, placing disinfectant mats at the respective entrances to the Male and Female Detention Zones, periodically spraying the entrance areas with disinfectant, providing alcohol-based hand sanitizers and surgical masks to all individuals entering the Zones, and requiring all inmates and juvenile delinquents leaving their cell area or sleeping area to wear a surgical mask, etc.; starting 22 January, all individuals entering the facilities of the Correctional Services Bureau must wear a mask and receive a body temperature test. Individuals found having a fever will be denied entry and advised to seek medical attention immediately; starting 23 January, all contact visits to inmates are suspended; on 2 February, it was announced through the media that all visiting services are suspended.
• About the cleaning of inmates' clothing: to ensure hygiene and sanitation, all prison uniforms for cleaning are centrally collected, laundered and machine dried at a high temperature by the Prison.
• No suspected cases of novel coronavirus infection have been detected at Coloane Prison or the Youth Correctional Institution of the Correctional Services Bureau to date.
• For enquiries or feedback, family and friends of inmates or juvenile delinquents and members of the public are welcome to contact the Correctional Services Bureau within office hours at tel: 88961280 or 88961283.