COLORADO SPRINGS — The Colorado Department of Corrections has been notified that two inmates at the Sterling Correctional Facility have tested positive for COVID-19.
The inmates were housed in the same unit and have been, and will continue to be, screened and quarantined. They will also continue to get proper medical care.
The CDOC medical and risk management teams and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are working on a detailed investigations.
Staff members who had close contact with those two inmates will be placed on leave. Other inmates who were found to have come in close contact with the COVID-19 positive inmates will be screened twice a day, that includes have their temperature taken and quarantined.
“As a Department we have been preparing to respond to this exact type situation,” said Department of Corrections Executive Director, Dean Williams. “We are continuing to use every tool at our disposal to keep it out of the prisons when and where we can, closely contain the virus when it does manage to get behind the walls, and to increase our margins and social distancing within the prison through appropriate and safe prison population reduction. The health and safety of our staff and inmates is our top priority.”
The Sterling Correctional Facility is now in Phase 3 modified operations. This means that all meals and medications will be delivered to living unties and inmates will remain in their cells during the quarantine period. The inmates will have access to their normal personal property during the quarantined period.
Colorado Correctional Industries has created cloth masks for CDOC staff, and staff are currently required to wear face coverings while on shift inside the facilities. They are making cloth masks for inmates.
The facility will be taking every precaution to prevent exposure and follow appropriate cleaning and disinfecting practices.
