COVID-19 found in prisons across state
Confirmed cases of C OVID -19 have been located throughout Oklahoma' s prison facilities as the state Department of Corrections ramped up its testing capabilities over the last several weeks.
The department announced Tuesday that one individual held in the WilliamS. Key Correctional Center in Fort Supply was released two days after being tested. Hours later, his positive results came back.
“Once an in mate has served his sentence, O DOC has no legal authority to hold them,” the department said in a statement. “This inmate showed no symptoms at the time of his testing nor the day of his release.”
The Corrections Department and the state Health Department notified individuals who could have been exposed, and 52 inmates are in quarantine and were tested for the virus.
Forty-nine of those tests came back negative, and the remaining three tests should come back “in the next few days.”
Last week, the Corrections Department began testing all inmates before release. Now, the department will test individuals at least a week before they are set to be released.
Earlier this month, it was announced that another inmate had tested positive inside the Jackie Brannon Correctional Center in McAlester.
At least five other staff members have also tested positive, one of whom worked at the Joseph Harp Correctional Center in Lexington.
All inmates were put on lock down in early April, and the Health Department has provided masks for inmates and staff.
Throughout t he pandemic, advocates have been concerned for how the state' s in mate population, which includes many who are elderly or immunoc om promised, would deal with an outbreak inside a correctional facility.
Crowded conditions and lack of access to hygiene products have also been stated as risk factors.
Gov. Kevin St it th as faced pressure from key criminal justice reform groups to address the issue.