The COVID-19 outbreak at HMP Stocken has now formally been declared over by Public Health England (PHE).

The announcement follows the prison being clear of COVID-19 amongst its staff and prisoners for over 28 days.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak was declared in January 2021, Governor Neil Thomas has worked closely with the Ministry of Justice, Department of Health, local public health officials, and others to ensure adherence to the best possible infection prevention measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Measures included reducing transfers in and out of the prison, rolling out even greater testing of prison staff, isolating those who tested positive on an isolation wing and shielding prisoners who were vulnerable.

The prison outbreak was blamed for half the cases in Rutland, which had created a spike of cases in the county, as previously reported by Nub News.

Fortunately, as also reported, there were no known links between the prison outbreak and cases in the community.

Rutland and Melton MP, Alicia Kearns, said: "I am so pleased that this week HMP Stocken's outbreak of COVID-19 has been formally declared over by Public Health England.

"I know this will come as a relief to all of us across Rutland. Thanks to the superb leadership of the Governor and all the enormous hard work of prison staff, this outbreak did not cause mass outbreaks in our wider community and overall less than 20 per cent of staff and prisoners tested positive for COVID-19. I hope very soon to be able to speak with the Governor and staff in person to thank them

for their extraordinary efforts."

The MP added: "Thank you to everyone for your continued hard work, and to all those who are organising our local vaccination programmes and all those who have gone to get vaccinated."

"I know how touched the Governor and the team were by the support and kindness offered by the people of Rutland throughout this difficult period."