Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

January 20, 2021

COVID-19 within a Large Prison with High Number of Vulnerable Adults in the UK, March to June 2020: An Outbreak Investigation and Screening Event

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A SARS-CoV-2 outbreak investigation in a large prison with a vulnerable population was quickly contained, with only 58 out of 1,156 residents (5%) and 129 out of 510 staff (25%) developing COVID-19 symptoms. 62% of symptomatic residents were 50 years or older, and frequently reported symptoms were cough with no fever (29%), followed by a cough and fever (16%). Wing I had the highest attack rate (13%). The multi-agency response to the outbreak consisted of placing vulnerable residents into protective isolation, isolating symptomatic and COVID-19 positive residents, distributing informational leaflets to residents, and implementing a one-time universal screening via a PCR test of all staff and residents. 

Wilburn et al. (Jan 2021). COVID-19 within a Large Prison with High Number of Vulnerable Adults in the UK, March to June 2020: An Outbreak Investigation and Screening Event. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.01.027