David Y. Igé | PSD press release: COVID-19 update from the Ministry of Public Security

HONOLULU – The Staff Training and Development (TSD) section of the Department of Public Security (PSD) reports that a correctional officer recruit has tested positive for COVID-19. The Department of Health is conducting contact tracing and has authorized TSD to continue training the Basic Correctional Recruit Class (BCRC) and Law Enforcement Recruit Class (LERC). PSD coordinates with DOH to offer voluntary testing to all TSD recruits and staff. The TSD law enforcement recruit and an employee of the Administration Division, first reported positive on August 12, have recovered.

COVID-19 tests are carried out around the clock in prisons and state prisons as well as at the Saguaro Correctional Center under contract in Eloy, AZ. The Department of Public Security (DSP) continues to encourage all staff and inmates to be voluntarily tested and vaccinated against COVID-19. The latest test updates received for the correctional facilities are the following:

Oahu Community Correctional Center – 462 results of inmate tests: 34 positive, 426 negative and two (2) inconclusive. 43 inmates recovered, bringing the total number of active positive inmate cases to 95. One (1) positive employee test result was reported along with two (2) staff recoveries.

Maui Community Correctional Center – Five (5) positive inmate test results. 63 inmates have recovered, bringing the total number of active positive inmate cases to 17.

Hawaii Community Correctional Center – Five (5) inmate test results: one (1) positive, four (4) negative.

Halawa Correctional Institution – One (1) positive inmate test result. 43 inmates have recovered, bringing the total number of active inmate cases to 21. The two (2) inmates previously reported as hospitalized are among the recoveries noted. One (1) staff recovery was also reported.

Community Correctional Center for Women – 206 negative results for inmate tests and 13 negative results for staff tests. (REMARK: One (1) inmate on extended leave positive reported Friday (8/27) returned to the institution for medical isolation.)

Saguaro Correctional Center (Eloy, AZ) – 5 inmates have recovered. Saguaro no longer has any active COVID-19 inmate cases.

For more detailed data on inmate testing, PSD’s pandemic plan, and information on response efforts to protect inmates, staff and the public, visit the dedicated COVID-19 webpage at: http://dps.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/03/17/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-resources/.

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