Online first
Current issue
Archive
Special Issues
About the Journal
Publication Ethics
Anti-Plagiarism system
Instructions for Authors
Instructions for Reviewers
Editorial Board
Editorial Office
Contact
Reviewers
All Reviewers
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
General Data Protection Regulation (RODO)
RESEARCH PAPER
COVID-19 – Infection prevention in prisons and jails in Poland
1
Medical University, Warsaw, Poland
2
School of Public Health, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
3
Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
4
College of Social Sciences, Institute of Legal Studies, University of Rzeszów, Poland
5
Faculty of Engineering and Management, University of Ecology and Management, Warsaw, Poland
6
National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2021;28(4):621-626
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objective:
Due to the specificity of conditions in penitentiary establishments, there is an increased risk of rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus infections. In addition, there is a high prevalence of non-communicable chronic diseases among inmates, which increases the risk of the severe course of COVID-19. The objectives of the study are to present the number and percentage of officers and employees of the Prison Service (PS), and inmates quarantined and infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the period from March to the end of December 2020, as well as to present solutions aimed at limiting the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Material and methods:
Information on the number of PS officers, employees and inmates quarantined and infected, as well as information on the solutions introduced by the Prison Service Management Bard,was obtained from the Ministry of Justice pursuant to the provisions of the Act on Access to Public Information.
Results:
From1 March 2020 – 31 December 2020, the number of cases of infection detected among PS officers and employees was 3,666, and among inmates – 599. 97.7% of all cases among PS officers and employees and 93.8% among inmates were reported in the last 3 months of the year.
Conclusions:
The rapid introduction of solutions aimed at limiting the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and proper monitoring of the epidemic in penitentiary establishments resulted in a low number of infections in the period from March to the end of December 2020. Infections among PS officers and employees, as well as inmates, seem to be parallel to the epidemiological situation in the population of the entire country. Further analysis of the epidemic will confirm the impact of the measures taken on the incidence of COVID-19 among PS officers, employees and inmates.
Due to the specificity of conditions in penitentiary establishments, there is an increased risk of rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus infections. In addition, there is a high prevalence of non-communicable chronic diseases among inmates, which increases the risk of the severe course of COVID-19. The objectives of the study are to present the number and percentage of officers and employees of the Prison Service (PS), and inmates quarantined and infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the period from March to the end of December 2020, as well as to present solutions aimed at limiting the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Material and methods:
Information on the number of PS officers, employees and inmates quarantined and infected, as well as information on the solutions introduced by the Prison Service Management Bard,was obtained from the Ministry of Justice pursuant to the provisions of the Act on Access to Public Information.
Results:
From1 March 2020 – 31 December 2020, the number of cases of infection detected among PS officers and employees was 3,666, and among inmates – 599. 97.7% of all cases among PS officers and employees and 93.8% among inmates were reported in the last 3 months of the year.
Conclusions:
The rapid introduction of solutions aimed at limiting the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and proper monitoring of the epidemic in penitentiary establishments resulted in a low number of infections in the period from March to the end of December 2020. Infections among PS officers and employees, as well as inmates, seem to be parallel to the epidemiological situation in the population of the entire country. Further analysis of the epidemic will confirm the impact of the measures taken on the incidence of COVID-19 among PS officers, employees and inmates.
REFERENCES (19)
1.
World Health Organization. Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Geneva, Switzerland, January 30, 2020; https://www.who.int/news-room/...); access: 17 December 2020.
2.
Act of December 5, 2008 on preventing and combating infections and infectious diseases in humans (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 1845, as amended). This act was amended seven times in the period from January 9 to November 30, 2020; https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap....; access 15 December 2020.
3.
Act of March 2, 2020 on specific solutions related to the preventing, counteracting and combating COVID-19, other infectious diseases and the crisis situations caused by them (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 374, as amended); https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap....; access 15 December 2020.
4.
Hagan LM, Williams SP, Spaulding AC, Toblin RL, Figlenski J, Ocampo J, Ross T, et. al. Mass Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in 16 Prisons and Jails — Six Jurisdictions, United States, April–May 2020, MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020; 69: 1139–1143.
5.
Wallace M, Marlow M, Simonson S, et al. Public health response to COVID-19 cases in correctional and detention facilities—Louisiana, March–April 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020; 69: 594–598.
6.
Hawks L, Woolhandler S, McCormick D. COVID-19 in prisons and jails in the United States. JAMA Intern Med. 2020; 180: 1041–1042.
7.
Maruschak LM, Berzofsky M, Unangst J. Medical problems of state and federal prisoners and jail inmates, 2011–12. Washington, DC: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics; 2015. https://www. bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/mpsfpji1112.pdf; access 20 January 2021.
8.
Act of September 6, 2001 on access to public information (Journal of Laws of 2019, item 1429); http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.n...; access: 17 December 2020.
9.
Regulation of the Minister of Health of 6 April 2020 on infectious diseases resulting in the obligation of hospitalization, isolation or isolation at home, and the obligation of quarantine or epidemiological supervision (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 607).
10.
World Health Organization (WHO). Global surveillance for human infection with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Interim guidance as of February 27, 2020. https://www.who.int/publicatio...); access December 19, 2020.
12.
Gujski M, Jankowski M, Pinkas J, Wierzba W, Samel-Kowalik P, Zaczyński A, Jędrusik P, Pańkowski I, Juszczyk G, Rakocy K, Raciborski F. Prevalence of Current and Past SARS-CoV-2 Infections among Police Employees in Poland, June-July 2020. J Clin Med. 2020; 9(10): 3245. doi:10.3390/jcm9103245.
13.
COVID-19 en prison: des mesures gouvernementales insuffisantes. Site Contrôleur Général Lieux Priv Lib. https://www.cglpl.fr/2020/covi...; access 28 April 2020.
15.
Saloner B, Parish K, Ward JA, DiLaura G, Dolovich S. COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Federal and State Prisons. JAMA. 2020; 324(6): 602–603.
16.
Crispim JA, Ramos ACV, Berra TZ, Santos MSD, Santos FLD, Alves LS, Costa FBPD, Arcencio RA. Impact and trend of COVID-19 in the Brazilian prison system: an ecological study. Cien Saude Colet. 2021; 26(1): 169–178.
17.
Fovet T, Lancelevée C, Eck M, Scouflaire T, Bécache E, Dandelot D, Giravalli P, Guillard A, Horrach P, Lacambre M, Lefebvre T, Moncany AH, Touitou D, David M, Thomas P. Prisons confinées: quelles conséquences pour les soins psychiatriques et la santé mentale des personnes détenues en France? [Mental health care in French correctional facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic]. Encephale. 2020; 46(3S): 60–65.
18.
Cingolani M, Caraceni L, Cannovo N, Fedeli P. The COVID-19 Epidemic and the Prison System in Italy. J Correct Health Care. 2020 Jul 6: 1078345820929733. doi: 10.1177/1078345820929733. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32627645.
19.
Montoya-Barthelemy AG, Lee CD, Cundiff DR, Smith EB. COVID-19 and the Correctional Environment: The American Prison as a Focal Point for Public Health. Am J Prev Med. 2020; 58(6): 888–891.
| eISSN: | 1898-2263 |
| ISSN: | 1232-1966 |
Generation of the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) - task financed under the agreement No NrRCN/SP/0532/2021/1 by the Minister of Science and Higher
© 2006-2025 Journal hosting platform by Bentus
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
