Covid outbreak at Peterborough prison with ‘up to 100 cases’

The Peterborough Telegraph understands that between 80 and 100 cases of the virus have been recorded recently, with the majority of infected people said to be inmates.

Approached for comment, Peterborough City Council leader Cllr John Holdich, who also chairs the Covid outbreak committee in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, said: “There’s a large outbreak in the prison which is affecting Peterborough’s figures.

“We’re working with the prison authorities to make sure it doesn’t spread further.”

Peterborough has come under criticism for its high ranking in the list of local authorities with the biggest rates of Covid-19 per population, but this has been heavily impacted by the recent outbreak at the prison.

In the week leading up to February 15 Peterborough recorded 486 new cases, placing it ninth nationally.

The privately-run prison in Saville Road, Westwood, which has more than 1,000 inmates, is located on the Government’s Covid map in the Millfield & Bourges Boulevard area of Peterborough which registered a huge outbreak in the past seven days for available figures.

There were 127 cases in the area in the week leading up to February 16, a rise of 94 (284.8 per cent) from the previous week.

The rolling rate of infections was a huge 1,263.7, nearly four times the rate of the local authority with the highest case rate (Corby, 325.4).

The PT understands that the infection was most likely brought in from a prison staff member.

HMP Peterborough, run by Sodexo, is the only prison in the country with both a male and a female wing.

In January, the PT reported that no inmates had tested positive for coronavirus, with only a few members of staff having the virus.

However, inspectors criticised the jail for not relaxing strict measures that left prisoners stuck in cells for most of the day.

Sodexo has been approached for comment.

A Peterborough City Council spokesperson, said: “The rise in cases in the Millfield/Bourges Boulevard ward has been affected by a localised outbreak of Covid-19 cases at HMP Peterborough in the last week.

“Any outbreaks in Peterborough are of concern to the city council, however, we are confident that the outbreak is being well managed with strong input from Public Health England. Our local public health team is staying in close contact with the prison and will provide any support they need.

“Across the city, Covid-19 infection rates have declined since the peak in January but numbers are still high. We ask city residents to continue to follow social distancing guidelines and to take up the vaccine when they are offered it.

“We are having a second Peterborough Summit tomorrow which will discuss how we fight for the future of our city as lockdown is lifted. It will discuss the PM briefing today and timely opportunity for local leaders to discuss the implications of this for our city. This will be broadcast on the council’s social media channels following the event.”