Manila Bulletin
Coronavirus detected in Haiti's largest prison
Eleven inmates at Haiti's largest prison in Port-au-Prince have tested positive for COVID-19, raising concerns about the rapid spread of the virus in the country's overcrowded and unsanitary correctional facilities.
The positive cases were confirmed after around 50 prisoners reported having a fever, prompting health officials to test a sample group of 12 inmates.
The director of the national prison system, Charles Nazaire Noel, confirmed the entry of COVID-19 into the prison and pledged to enhance sanitation measures while requesting broader screening.
Haiti's prison system is severely overcrowded, with over 11,000 individuals incarcerated in facilities designed for a much smaller population, many awaiting trial for extended periods.
The Port-au-Prince penitentiary, built for 778 inmates, currently houses over 3,600 prisoners, exacerbating the risk of transmission.
Human rights advocates have previously highlighted the extreme overcrowding, with cells intended for 10-20 people holding up to 80 inmates.
The country has reported 663 COVID-19 cases and 22 deaths as of Thursday, with fears that the virus spreading within prisons could significantly increase the death toll.
The limited number of tests conducted in Haiti, just over 2,100 since March 19, also adds to the concern about the true extent of the virus's reach.
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