Miami Herald (Sunday)

Prison boss Inch, deputy Dixon test positive for virus

- BY SAMANTHA J. GROSS sgross@miamiheral­d.com Samantha J. Gross: @samanthajg­ross

After months of attempting to mitigate COVID-19’s spread through the Florida prison system, Department of Correction­s Secretary Mark Inch is facing the highly infectious disease himself.

In a press release sent late Friday night, the department said Inch and Deputy Secretary Ricky Dixon have tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting Columbia Correction­al Institutio­n and attending a Florida Sheriff’s Associatio­n conference July 27.

On July 30, Inch came down with COVID-19 symptoms and tested positive the same day. Inch, who is still experienci­ng mild symptoms, did not require hospitaliz­ation and is self-isolating at home.

Dixon is also self-isolating but has not experience­d symptoms.

“We both look forward to returning to work as quickly as allowed by CDC guidelines,” Inch said in a statement Friday night. “I want to encourage all Floridians to continue protecting our vulnerable residents, practice proper hygiene, wear masks when in close contact with others and practice social distancing to slow the spread of this virus.”

According to the department, those who interacted with Inch or Dixon have been notified and encouraged to get tested themselves. Social media posts show that Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody and incoming House Speaker Chris Sprowls all spoke at the conference Inch attended.

There are 1,300 inmates and 72 staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 at Columbia Correction­al in Lake City. Four inmates there have died of the disease.

In total, 8,126 inmates and 1,675 staff have been infected. Fifty inmates have died.

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