Case counts at Berks prison remain low
Series of decisions early in pandemic credited
Unlike some prisons across the country, Berks County Prison has fared well in the fight against the novel coronavirus.
There have been reports of severe COVID-19 outbreaks in many correctional facilities causing concern over the ability to keep prisoners safe amid the pandemic. That has not been the case in Berks.
Members of the county prison board have credited a series of health measures, and a little luck, has helped the facility remain relatively unscathed, officials said.
Warden Janine Quigley reported during the board’s monthly meeting Wednesday that the prison has seen only five cases over the past four months — four among those who work there and one among the inmates housed there.
A second inmate is in quarantine awaiting test results after reporting that he had previously tested positive.
Those numbers are up only slightly from the figures reported last month when Quigley said there had been three cases: two staff members and one inmate.
Officials have said they believe the prison has managed to so far escape the worst thanks to quick decisions that were made right from the start.
They specifically credited the push to release some inmates who had served minimum sentences to create space to quarantine those coming into the facility; the effort to reduce admissions by releasing inmates charged with nonviolent offenses; the move to conduct virtual proceedings to keep the wheels of justice rolling; and barring visitors.
Quigley reported that the county has managed to keep the prison population well below what it was before the pandemic struck.
But acknowledged that the number of commitments is starting to once again increase.
She said there were 651 inmates assigned to the prison as of Wednesday morning — representing a nearly 30% reduction in the prison population since February.
The population reached its lowest point in May with just 580 inmates.