Union concerns about Perth Prison security as staff isolate amid outbreak
More than 100 cases among inmates and workers have been detected with staff levels dropping by more than 50 percent in some halls
Trade unions are worried a coronavirus outbreak at Perth Prison could compromise security.
Latest figures from the Scottish Prison Service confirm there are currently 118 positive tests among inmates in the country, 112 of these are in the Fair City.
There are also positive cases among workers, understood to be 15, with an additional 20 or so colleagues in self-isolation.
This has resulted in staff capacity in some halls being reduced by more than half. The Scottish Prison Service is expected to made a decision today about whether or not to draft in additional resources.
That's something Assistant General Secretary at POA Scotland, Phil Fairlie, thinks should be considered.
"There's talk of bringing in detached duty in from other prisons. The one thing about the Prison Service is it's not an option to work from home, it's not an option not to turn up.
"No matter what's going on we need staff to be there and do their job, that's the operational frontline element of the service they provide.
"One of the halls in Perth would normally have 22 staff available, 13 of those are unavailable due to sickness or through covid.
"When the staff numbers get so low, there's only so much you can do. The priorities are the care of those within our prisons, as well as security, discipline and control."
Mass testing started at the facility on Sunday and is continuing, with all inmates being kept apart.
Communal areas like the gym have been made off limits, as have family visits. Of the positive cases which've been detected, a "significant number" are asymptomatic, something which gives unions cause for optimism.
"I'm grateful for the fact that at the moment, no one has been hospitalised, no one is seeming to have significant difficulties with having tested positive," added Mr Fairlie.
"But you can never take that for granted, there are still people dying with this coronavirus."