Prison service confirms 40 inmates have Covid-19

The figures come on the back of recent statements issued by the IPS in relation to “outbreaks” in Loughan House Open Centre in Cavan and Wheatfield Prison in west Dublin.

A total of 40 prisoners are currently Covid-19 positive, new figures show.

The results follow testing across the prison system, with the Irish Prison Service stressing the number is in the context of a daily population of 3,667 inmates as of January 8.