27 current inmates and 10 employees at the Dauphin County prison have tested positive for the Coronavirus.
Out of the infected inmates and employees, two were hospitalized and released, according to County Corrections Director Brian Clark. Eight of the infected inmates are federal detainees.
Not all patients who tested positive had symptoms and but some did, according to county officials.
The inmates who tested positive were placed in an isolation unit, Clark said, adding that anyone who had contact with them were placed in quarantine units for close monitoring.
Staff members who tested positive were sent home to quarantine for 14 days, Clark said.
Bre’onn Lynn is planning a protest this Saturday at the prison because of her belief that inmates are not being properly separated.
The rise in cases requires another round of testingall 1,050 inmates, employees and contract employees, county officials said, to try to identify and isolate additional positive cases.
The prison began implementing a pandemic plan in March, according to county officials, where they took temperatures of anyone who entered the facility, suspended in-person visitation and offered free video visitation. As part of the plan, the prison also provided personal protective equipment to staff and inmates, and stepped up cleaning procedures in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations, according to a news release issued Tuesday.
Additionally, inmate transfers to and from the prison have been suspended since April 11 until further notice.
County officials said the prison will continue to provide updates as the mass testing results become available. There are currently 807 inmates at the county prison.
