Transport of inmates to court may resume with cluster ‘under control’

Maui Community Correctional Center and court officials are discussing resuming the transport of inmates to court “now that the virus spread has been mitigated” at the Wailuku jail, a state Department of Public Safety spokeswoman said Monday.

Eight active COVID-19 cases were reported among inmates Monday, following five positive and 34 negative test results. Eighty-six inmates who contracted COVID have recovered, the department reported.

Ten negative staff test results were reported Monday, leaving one active staff case.

Eight inmates were in isolation and 166 were in quarantine at the jail.

“The COVID-19 cluster at MCCC is under control,” department spokeswoman Toni Schwartz said Monday. “The facility has been in constant contact with the courts and there have been discussions about resuming court transports now that the virus spread has been mitigated.”

She said inmates who are medically cleared will be allowed to appear in person instead of by videoconference.

She didn’t have a date for when transports would resume.

On Monday, inmates appeared by videoconference from the Wailuku jail for their court appearances, continuing a practice that began in early February after the first inmate COVID-19 case was reported at MCCC.

“The hardworking, dedicated MCCC health care and facility staff have been working tirelessly long hours, following the pandemic plan to medically isolate, quarantine and cohort inmates, and to quickly bring the cluster at MCCC under control,” Schwartz said. “There are only eight inmates remaining with active positive cases. All positive inmates experienced mild to no symptoms and there are no inmates in the hospital.”