Public Health response to an outbreak of SARS-CoV2 infection in a Barcelona prison

An outbreak of SARS-CoV2 infection in a Barcelona prison was studied after seven cases appeared in nine days. One hundred and eighty-four people (148 inmates and 36 prison staff) were evaluated by rt-PCR. Thirty-nine (24.1%) were positive: 33 inmates and six staff members. The inmates were isolated in prison module 4, which was converted into an emergency COVID unit. Two people (one inmate and one health worker) were admitted to hospital for clinical deterioration. There were no deaths. Outbreaks pose a huge risk, must be detected early, are difficult to manage, and require optimal coordination between health and prison authorities.