Government’s Harrison Point isolation facility and HMP Dodds have the necessary facilities to manage patients with COVID-19, contrary to what has been shared on social media.
Chairman of the Cabinet’s COVID-19 Sub-committee, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr. Jerome Walcott, dispelled the social media claims during a COVID-19 update to the nation at Ilaro Court, on Monday.
Minister Walcott reported that the Harrison’s Point facility was not full, and had “a capacity of 222 beds” at this point in time, and “was far short of that in terms of the numbers being accommodated there”.
He went on to address the situation at HMP Dodds and what had taken place, in order to ensure that the prison was capable of managing those who tested positive at the institution.
Dr. Walcott stated: “In terms of the prison, we’ve made tours, and in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Wellness provision has been made to accommodate the persons who are required to be isolated.
“And indeed, we have gone a step further in terms of preparing the medical wing of that institution at the prison, in terms of if we have to deal with any prisoners who might become seriously ill, or may deteriorate, so that they can be managed up there. We will be making provisions in terms of having one or two ventilators there, just in case they might become necessary to use them.”