The Irish Prison Service has rejected claims that Covid-19 affected prisoners are "living in a zoo".
A source told Dublin Live that any time a prisoner gets Covid that everyone is locked away in their cell for 14 days.
They said: “You’re not allowed out for two weeks, not allowed to shower, not allowed to see anyone or go to the gym. You’ve to stay in the tiny room."
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But a spokesman for the Irish Prison Service said that they still have access to many facilities, although there are strict rules in place to prevent the spread of Covid, including no cell showers, if there's an outbreak of the virus.
He said: “Prisoners who are in isolation and quarantine continue to have access to a wide range of services and facilities within the prison including phone calls, psychology supports, tuck shop, chaplaincy services and television and in particular efforts are made to ensure that prisoners can communicate with their families on the outside, through increased provision of telephone services.
“Where in cell showers are not provided, the National Infection Control Team created a Standard Operating Procedure that allows for the provision of two showers per week to those in isolation and quarantine.”
He also highlighted that prisoners suspected of infection have stricter restrictions while the testing process is completed.
He said: “If a prisoner tests positive on a landing, the prison would be tested and contact traced.
“If a number of prisoners display symptoms or test positive, that landing will be shut down. It depends on how many people come back as close contacts, if it’s on that landing the person is on, we restrict it and carry out testing.
“They would have to restrict their movements depending on their vaccination status. They wouldn’t be allowed to mix with other landings.
“All prisoners newly committed to prison are placed in quarantine before being transferred into the general population. This measure is in place in order to reduce the risk that a new committal, who might be incubating the virus, could spread Covid-19 into the general prison population.”
The source also claimed that there are stricter measures for prisoners and their families when it comes to contacting each other.
They said: “If it was me, I’d go crazy. Before Covid, they were allowed to play with toys if they’d kids visiting.
"But now, there’s two rooms but they have screens, it’s like a post office. They’ve glass in between their visitors and themselves. The visits are really hard, it’s like a zoo looking through the glass.
“Lots of prisons would refuse visits at the last minute if something happened or if they were short staffed.
“Families travel to see them, it’s not about the prisoners seeing their kids, it’s about the kids seeing them.
“The kids come in with cards and all but the prisoners can’t even get them anymore, they have to photocopy it and they get it in black and white.”
The spokesman said there is a need for prisoners to maintain contact with their families and new protocols have been set up to do so.
He said: “A new video visit system was introduced in March 2020. This system allows families to continue to support those in custody and has proven to be very successful.
“Screens are an additional Infection Control measure that were brought in to help protect staff, prisoners and the public from contracting the virus. The screens used for physical visits will remain in place across the prison estate and will be reviewed accordingly by our National Infection Control Team.
“Families of prisoners can post gifts including cards and clothes to prisons and are subject to security protocols.
"In addition, items are quarantined for up to 72 hours due to Covid and then given to the prisoner.”
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