Over 200 COVID-19 Infections Reported in Chinese Prison Cluster

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] In Shandong and Zhejiang provinces of China, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread within prisons, resulting in hundreds of inmates being collectively infected. Except for Hubei Province and the Wuhan area, this is the first time that hundreds of daily confirmed cases have been discovered all at once. It is analyzed that due to the enclosed nature of detention facilities, infections inevitably spread rapidly once they occur.

According to local Chinese media such as Global Times on the 21st, a large outbreak of COVID-19 infections occurred at Rencheng Prison in Shandong Province. A total of 207 people, including 200 inmates and 7 correctional officers, were confirmed positive. In a prison in Zhejiang Province, a total of 34 infections were confirmed. It is estimated that the virus spread rapidly as correctional officers from Wuhan and Hubei Province returned home around the Lunar New Year holiday.

A correctional officer from Rencheng Prison had been included in the confirmed case statistics of Jining City, Shandong Province since the 14th, and the 200 inmates were included in the 202 newly confirmed cases announced by Shandong Province on the 20th. Upon the large-scale outbreak at Rencheng Prison, authorities immediately began treating the infected inmates and deployed epidemiological investigators to trace infection routes and conduct comprehensive disinfection. Additionally, the Shandong provincial government held the Shandong Provincial Department of Justice chief accountable for poor prison management and dismissed him from his position.