Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says his department should be able to cope with Covid-19 entering the prison system.
Six of the country’s 18 jails have reported cases of Omicron, including 46 at the Serco-run male corrections facility at Wiri.
229 of the 771 inmates are now in quarantine.
46 staff from prisons in the upper North Island are on leave after coming into close contact with positive cases.
Mr Davis says the Omicron surge was anticipated by Corrections.
“They’re prepared for this. The staff who have contracted Covid, they’re obviously aren’t at work. They’ve got people who’ve come in to replace them so they’ve got it all sorted out in terms of making sure they’ve got enough kaimahi” he says.
Mount Eden Remand Prison, Waikeria and Spring Hill prisons have also reported cases.
