277 new COVID-19 cases reported at Correctional Training Facility in past 14 days
SOLEDAD, Calif. (KION)
UPDATE 11/13/2020 5 p.m. New numbers issued by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation show that there have now been 277 new COVID-19 cases reported at the Correctional Training Facility in the past 14 days.
There are a total of 280 active cases among inmates, and 216 people have recovered since the pandemic began. One person has died.
A total of 109 employees have tested positive since the pandemic began, and 28 of those are still active. 18 new employee cases have been reported in the past 14 days.
UPDATE 11/12/2020 10:30 P.M. - The COVID-19 outbreak at the Correctional Training Facility (CTF) prison in Soledad is growing. As of Thursday night, the CDRD "population COVID-19 tracking" website reports 243 active inmate cases - 241 cases reported in just the last 14 days.
Only one CDCR prison has more current inmates active with the virus.
The number of CTF staff with COVID remains the same: 24 staff members are currently infected with the virus, 20 in the last 14 days.
UPDATE 11/11/2020 6:00 p.m. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has provided an update on the number of new COVID-19 cases at the Correctional Training Facility.
The agency reports that there are 217 active inmate cases, the second most in the California prison system, and 212 of them were reported in the last 14 days.
The CDCR provided a statement to KION and wrote:
"The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) are immediately responding to the increase in positive COVID-19 cases at Correctional Training Facility (CTF) with coordinated efforts that include mass testing of the incarcerated population, weekly mandatory staff testing and contact tracing. Prior to this outbreak, CTF had identified appropriate housing for on-site isolation and quarantine space and officials are designating additional areas to increase the capacity for isolation and quarantine beds. CTF has also set up an Incident Command Post at the prison to ensure communication and coordination.
"CTF is following public health and health care guidance for medical isolation and quarantine for the incarcerated population in accordance with CCHCS guidance. Additionally, it is following all COVID-19 protocols for screening employees, mandatory use of masks, social distancing and additional sanitation of bathrooms and other common areas.
"Inmates and staff members at CTF are tested weekly.
"Movement of staff and incarcerated people within the institution has been limited to an as-needed basis to help mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19. The incarcerated population and staff are required to wear a facial barriers when moving around the institution. Staff members working in the units with COVID-positive cases are being issued N95 masks.
"The well-being and safety of the incarcerated population and staff within CDCR and CCHCS is our top priority. CDCR and CCHCS will continue to work closely with the court-appointed Federal Receiver and public health experts to address COVID-19 in its institutions."
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
213 inmates have recovered since the pandemic began, and one person has died.
A total of 100 staff embers have tested positive since the pandemic began, and 76 have returned to work. 24 cases are still active, and 20 of them have been reported in the last 14 days.
Some families of inmates argue the numbers rising means something is not being done right at the prison facilities.
"There's something that they're doing right, that they're not going by. They're not keeping them safe," said Samantha, who is a married to an inmate at Soledad CTF. "Like he's scared, he's scared. He's really worried about himself and being around other people. It's a very scary situation because you don't know if someone has it."
UPDATE 11/9/2020 5:10 p.m. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation updated its COVID-19 numbers, and it now reports that there have been 169 new COVID-19 cases reported over the last 14 days at the Correctional Training Facility.
That brings the total number of active cases among inmates at CTF to 189.
PREVIOUS STORY: The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reports that 142 new COVID-19 cases among inmates have been reported at the Correctional Training Facility in the past 14 days.
There are currently 162 active cases among inmates, and 198 inmates have recovered from the virus. One inmate has died.
The prison currently has the third highest number of active cases out of all CDCR prisons, according to its count, but it does not have the highest total number of confirmed cases or deaths.
A total of 100 CDCR employees have tested positive at the prison since the start of the pandemic. 24 of the cases are active, and 20 were reported in the last 14 days.
At the neighboring Salinas Valley State Prison, there are six active COVID-19 cases among inmates, and all have been reported in the last 14 days. 122 inmates have recovered from the virus since the pandemic began, and one inmate died, according to the CDCR.
