The North Carolina Department of Public Safety has announced that four inmates and four prison employees have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
All of the infected inmates are located at facilities in the eastern part of the state — two at Neuse Correctional Institution, one at Caledonia Correctional Complex, and one at Johnston Correctional Institution. Prison staff with the coronavirus worked at Johnston, Eastern Correctional Institution, Maury Correctional Institution, and the Central Prison in Raleigh.
Officials say they've been making preparations in the event of a positive infection in the prison population, and are following infectious disease protocols.
“Things are changing day by day and sometimes hour by hour," says Todd Ishee, the state Commissioner of Prisons. "We are continuing to take additional safety steps to help preempt, and reduce the opportunity for the virus to spread throughout the prison system.”
Every employee who enters a prison will have their temperatures taken daily. Anyone with a reading of 100 degrees or higher will not be let in.
In addition to medical screenings, new inmates will be isolated for 14 days. This also applies to county jails.
The first inmate to test positive was a male in his 60s. He's in isolation at Caledonia Correctional. DPS says he's in stable condition. The housing dorm where the inmate was assigned is on lockdown, and prisoners there will be served meals in their cells.
For the most up-to-date information on coronavirus in North Carolina, visit our Live Updates blog here. WFDD wants to hear your stories — connect with us and let us know what you're experiencing.