The Irish Prison Service (IPS) yesterday confirmed that it had identified 19 cases among prisoners, though the number could rise as tests are ongoing.

An undisclosed number of staff have also tested positive and contact tracing is ongoing. The IPS said the staff cases “are currently confined to specific areas within the prison”.

The first case of Covid-19 in the Irish prison system was recorded last August. Ireland had won international plaudits for succeeding in keeping Covid-19 out of prisons during the early stages of the pandemic, though a report warned it had come at a “significant cost to the mental health and wellbeing of the people subject to special measures”.