State prisons under quarantine as coronavirus cases increase in Pennsylvania
The state Department of Corrections implemented a statewide inmate quarantine Sunday night because of the new coronavirus, the department announced Monday.
The DOC detains nearly 44,600 inmates in 25 state prisons, including Benner and Rockview state prisons.
An inmate at Phoenix state prison in Montgomery County tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. Three corrections employees self-reported positive tests, but the department did not say where the employees work.
All visitation was suspended effective March 13. Visits are suspended through at least April 10.
“Quarantining the entire system is in the best interest of our employees and our inmates,” DOC Secretary John Wetzel said in a statement. “This is essentially forced social distancing. We must take this step to contain the virus to one facility and to keep it from spreading throughout the system. I don’t want to wait until we have several cases in our system to act. We’re taking this proactive measure now.”
The Centre County Correctional Facility also suspended all inmate visits with family and friends because of the coronavirus. The change is effective through at least April 13.
The state Department of Health reported 4,087 total positive cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania as of noon Monday, including 24 in Centre County.