HANGZHOU, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A total of 34 inmates were confirmed to have been infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), in a prison in east China's Zhejiang Province, according to a press conference held by the provincial government Friday.
The Shilifeng Prison in the city of Quzhou has been closed off, and every patient is receiving medical treatment, according to the briefing.
The provincial department of justice said an officer of the prison was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus on Jan. 29. He had visited Wuhan, the center of the novel coronavirus outbreak, from Jan. 14 to 19, but he deliberately concealed the fact and went back to work in the prison after the trip. On Jan. 31, some others in the prison were diagnosed with the infection.
The provincial health department immediately sent a team of experts to the site to guide the epidemic prevention and control work, including disinfection and isolation. Due to contact with the prison officer, many inmates were infected.
The political commissar and the warden of the prison have been removed from office, and police have initiated an investigation into the prison officer.
Zhejiang's prison administration has carried out a thorough investigation to trace those who have had close contact with confirmed patients. All of them, together with suspected patients, have been quarantined for medical observation.
