How have correctional facilities in Centre County fared with COVID-19 cases?
Tens of thousands of COVID-19 cases have been reported in jails and prisons throughout the United States, but four months into the pandemic, correctional facilities in Centre County have avoided an influx of cases.
Two Rockview state prison employees tested positive, while no Benner state prison employees have tested positive, according to data from the state Department of Corrections.
No Rockview state prison inmates tested positive as of Thursday, and 76 have tested negative.
At Benner state prison, the DOC reports one positive case and one death. A man convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison died last month, DOC spokeswoman Sue McNaughton wrote in an email Thursday.
The man, who was not identified because of a federal law that restricts the release of medical information, was only at the prison 18 days before he died, McNaughton wrote.
The 92-year-old, who was convicted in Crawford County, was diagnosed with COVID-19 at SCI Huntingdon, which has the highest number of positive cases of any state prison — 183 positive inmate cases, 52 positive staff cases and five inmate deaths. He was transferred to Benner state prison after he was considered recovered, McNaughton said.
According to McNaughton, he died June 16 of natural causes, but was listed as a COVID-19 death because he never fully recovered. He did not have contact with other inmates.
According to the DOC, 110 Benner state prison inmates have tested negative.
The man is one of 10 state prison inmates who died and had a positive COVID-19 test. Five were reported at Huntingdon state prison and four were reported at Phoenix state prison in Montgomery County.
There are no active cases of COVID-19 at Benner state prison, McNaughton wrote. One inmate tested positive prior to his release.
Since March, the DOC has had mitigation efforts in place including visitation suspension, increased sanitation and isolation for vulnerable populations.
As of Friday, six Centre County Correctional Facility inmates tested positive and each recovered, according to the jail. No employees have tested positive. The CCCF and county officials continue to collaborate to release inmates who are part of vulnerable populations and do not pose a safety risk.