Protests and riots have hit prisons across South America in recent weeks over fears of the spread of Covid-19 within their walls. Now, the UN is warning that overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and lack of access to health care is causing the “rapid spread” of the virus in detention facilities throughout Latin America.

“It is an absolutely chronic situation and this is because the overcrowding in some of the countries was massive, I mean you’re talking about in some places, like 500 percent over the limit of what the crowding should be in prison,” said Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights.