As South Africa’s number of confirmed COVID-19 cases spikes, so too do worries that the virus will continue to spread through our prison system.

The latest figures, released to the media on Sunday, show that at least 1 156 inmates, as well as 737 correctional service officials, have tested positive.

If the notion that this country’s prisoners deserve to be protected from potentially contracting the virus doesn’t move you, there’s also the fact that 19 000 low-risk inmates are set to be released from prison in the coming weeks and months.

You can listen to an interview with Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola here for more on that front.

Across the pond and over to America, their penal system is also under scrutiny, with prisons and jails having become been hotbeds for the virus.

In his show this past Sunday, John Oliver took a closer look at the extent of the crisis, as well as examining potential solutions:

[source:lastweektonight]