The state Department of Public Safety said Monday that after mass testing at a privately operated prison in Arizona, there are 378 inmates from Hawaii in isolation with active positive COVID-19 cases.
In a statement, DPS added that there are six inmates from Saguaro Correctional Center who are hospitalized.
The remainder of the Hawaii inmate population that tested positive and/or has a pending test are in quarantine as a precautionary measure.
Per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, all negative inmates will be retested in 3-7 days, DPS said.
Acting Public Safety Director Fred Hyun said officials at Saguaro assured DPS “they immediately enacted the facility’s isolation and quarantine protocol upon receiving the test result.”
“Saguaro does not have an overcrowding issue and, therefore, can provide adequate space for isolation and quarantine,” Hyun said. “All positive offenders have been medically isolated, and Saguaro staff will continue to monitor the negative inmates for any symptoms.”
In addition, DPS said it received assurances from Saguaro staff that the facility will continue to implement stringent sanitation and hygiene measures to limit potential exposure and mitigate the spread of coronavirus to inmates and staff.
There are currently 1,081 Hawaii inmates housed at Saguaro, operated by CoreCivic, formerly Corrections Corporation of America.
Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald
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