A young criminal prisoner is on coronavirus alert after an officer became infected with the virus.

The Polmont YII officer near Falkirk has been forced to send 16 staff members to relatives after a positive test was confirmed.

All close acquaintances were identified and staff were forced to extend to cover prison shift patterns.

One source said: “The man who caught the coronavirus gave reason to think he had found it outside his prison, and that’s what they’re expecting.

“The idea of ​​’self-isolating’ inmates in the cell started as soon as the case was filed in prison, but the reality is that governors have to get their fingers crossed and hopefully the virus will not go through that place in the meantime. Comes.

“The absence of a significant number of staff will put pressure on prison activities.”

Earlier this year, Polmont officer Steven Leslie was the first Scottish prison service officer to die of the virus.

The death of Steven, 59, was described by union officials as a “massive loss” deeply felt by his colleagues.

Some detainees were initially released from prisons because of growing fears that the virus would wreak havoc.

A spokesman for the Scottish Prison Service said: “We can confirm that we have received one member of the cohort test positive for coronavirus and have been told to self-isolate as a result of close contact with others.

“We believe the broadcast took place within the community and we are doing our best to ensure the facility is kept as safe as possible.”