621 TCI inmates in quarantine

Posted on July 31, 2020

More than 600 Taylor Correctional Institute (TCI) inmates have been placed in medical quarantine after being in close contact with a positive coronavirus case or with someone who has exhibited symptoms of the illness.

According to the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC), 14 inmates and five staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the medical quarantine for 621 additional inmates.

As of Thursday, 63 inmates were awaiting their test results. Only 10 inmates of those tested had tested negative.

According to the DOH’s local report, Taylor County has reported 37 correctional-related coronavirus cases — 18 of which work at a facility in a different county — making up 12% of the county’s cases.

The increase in TCI cases came in conjunction with Taylor County’s highest reported positive cases in one day — with 31 total cases having been reported Thursday.

Taylor County has now reported 319 positive cases – 11.1 percent of the 2,874 tested.

Additionally, 18 people (16% of those tested) have been hospitalized, one of which includes a child between the ages of five and 14.

According to the DOH, three people (1% of those tested) who previously who previously tested positive for coronavirus have died, including: a 78-year-old female, a 71-year-old male and a 91-year-old female.

Taylor’s direct neighbors — Jefferson, Madison, Dixie and Lafayette — have also reported growing numbers as more tests are administered.

Madison has the highest infection rate of Taylor County’s direct neighbors with 583 positive cases. Of the 583 positive cases, Madison has reported seven deaths and 26 hospitalizations.

Test results have been returned on 4,732 people.

To date, Jefferson has tested 2,171 people with 192 positive tests. Jefferson has reported five subsequent deaths and 21 hospitalizations.

In Dixie, 2,357 people have been tested, yielding 247 positive test results. Four deaths and 25 hospitalizations have occurred as a result.

With 858 tests completed, Lafayette has confirmed 100 positive coronavirus cases, eight hospitalizations and one death.

State-wide, Florida had nearly surpassed 461,000 cases. Of the 461,379, more than 26,017 have been hospitalized (6%) and 6,709 (1%) who previously tested positive for COVID-19 had died.

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