Waterbury, VT – Vermont Department of Corrections (Vermont DOC) is reporting one COVID-positive staff member at Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF) in Newport. This case was found in the fourth round of facility-wide outbreak testing conducted September 16; all other results were negative. Contact tracing showed no risk to other staff or the incarcerated population, and the facility is now in standard modified operations.
All staff are testing today, and the entire facility will undergo another round of outbreak testing on Thursday or Friday.
The outbreak began after two staff members tested positive for the virus August 18 and 21 after presenting with symptoms. A total of 33 incarcerated individuals and eight staff tested positive during the outbreak. All except the most recent positive staff member have been medically cleared to return to work or to general population.
Statewide, a total of six staff members and four incarcerated individuals are positive for the virus. There are positive cases in staff, the incarcerated population, or both at five of Vermont’s six facilities.
Families and friends of incarcerated individuals are encouraged to reach out to the Vermont DOC Office of Constituency Services with questions: https://doc.vermont.gov/information-inmate-families-and-friends. Click here for the direct link to the online Friends and Family portal.
Daily updates on the COVID-19 response in Vermont’s correctional facilities can be found at https://doc.vermont.gov/covid-19-information-page.
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