Waterbury, VT – Vermont Department of Corrections (Vermont DOC) is reporting three incarcerated individuals at Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF) in Newport tested positive for COVID-19 in testing conducted August 25 as a result of presenting with symptoms. The individuals live in a general population unit where a currently COVID-positive staff member worked, and where one other positive incarcerated case was detected from an August 23 test.
There are now a total of four COVID-positive incarcerated individuals and six COVID-positive staff at NSCF. The four incarcerated individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 have been in isolation since August 25, and the remainder of the unit is quarantined. The facility is on full lockdown pending the results of facility-wide outbreak testing of staff and incarcerated individuals which is taking place today.
At Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility (MVRCF) in Rutland, testing of all incarcerated individuals conducted August 25 returned zero positive cases. An MVRCF staff member tested positive during routine surveillance testing conducted August 24. Outbreak testing of all MVRCF staff and incarcerated individuals will occur August 31.
One previously COVID-positive staff member at Northwest State Correctional Facility (NWSCF) in St. Albans was cleared to return to work Friday. There is currently one positive staff member and two positive incarcerated individuals at NWSCF.
As of Friday, 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.
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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