A COVID-19 outbreak in Tasmania's prison system has forced authorities to lock down facilities and temporarily suspend visitation.
Fifty inmates have tested positive in the past two days, a department of justice spokesman said on Tuesday.
The vast majority (48) are from the Ron Barwick minimum security facility north of Hobart, with one case detected at both Risdon Prison and Mary Hutchinson Women's Prison.
Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the state government is monitoring the situation "very closely".
Inmates with the virus are isolating in line with the Tasmania Prison Service's management plan. All prisoners at affected jails are being tested.
"Affected facilities are necessarily locked down with access strictly limited to essential services only," the spokesman said.
An emergency command centre has been set up to ensure "the outbreak is dealt with as immediately and effectively as possible".
In-person visits have been temporarily suspended and dedicated isolation facilities have been set up within prisons to allow offenders who are either infected or close contacts to isolate.
"Prisoners have been provided with COVID activity packs that contain materials for them to engage in during this time," the spokesman said.
Mr Rockliff said 26 of the positive cases had been recorded in the past day.
He rejected calls from the state Greens to release vulnerable, low-risk prisoners.
"There is a strong epidemiological case for this to happen immediately, to curb the spread of the virus and to relieve pressure on staff," Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff said.
Tasmania recorded two deaths on Tuesday with 55 people in hospital, one fewer than a record 56 reported on Monday. Three patients are in intensive care.
The island state documented 2050 new cases, a rise of 400 from 24 hours earlier.
