Prison has 511 COVID cases

Posted on August 7, 2020

Taylor County’s total number of coronavirus cases climbed to 857 on Thursday — a jump of more than 55% in just two days — as the local state prison continued to report a huge wave of positive cases.

Taylor Correctional Institution (TCI) has now reported a total of 511 positive test results, which makes up more than 59% of the county’s total number of positive cases since the pandemic began.

Ten TCI staff members and 501 inmates have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Department of Corrections (DOC).

An additional 582 inmates were awaiting test results, and 1,075 others were in medical quarantine after coming into close contact with someone who tested positive or who exhibited symptoms of an illness.

All inmates in medical quarantine are being monitored by health services staff and receive temperature checks twice daily.

According to the DOC, any TCI staff member that tests positive will not be allowed to return to work until a “full recovery is documented by a medical professional and DOH and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines are followed.”

The Department of Health-Taylor (DOH-Taylor) is working with TCI to “ensure that all needs are being met in order to limit the spread,” said DOH-Taylor Public Information Officer Martine Young.

“Our concern comes due to the facility’s congregant living arrangements. Spread can happen very quickly in these situations,” Young said.

The local correctional facility’s numbers make up approximately 59% of Taylor County’s total COVID-19 cases.

“We do expect this number to continue to jump over the next several days as testing in this facility continues,” Young said.

To date, Taylor County has administered 4,553 tests, yielding an 18.8% infection rate.

As of Thursday, Taylor County has 20 reported hospitalizations and four deaths associated with COVID-19, according to DOH.

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