2 Employees, 1 Inmate Positive For Coronavirus: MD Corrections

MARYLAND — Three people have tested positive for the new coronavirus at correctional facilities in Baltimore and Jessup. Two are non-correctional contract employees and one is an inmate, according to the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

For days, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services has been deep-cleaning its facilities, officials said in a statement Monday confirming the coronavirus cases. Authorities say they have sanitized affected areas.

While it was not available when the positive test results were reported, as soon as officials were aware, they said they sent a COVID-19 response team to trace who had contact with the infected individuals.

One inmate and one employee in Jessup tested positive for COVID-19, Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services spokesman Mark Vernarelli said Monday. An employee associated with a facility in Baltimore tested positive too, he said, adding that he could not specify the facilities.

At shift change, all employees are now screened with health questions and their temperatures are checked, according to state authorities.

Public safety officials say they also have places for isolation and quarantine.

To the extent that it is possible in the prison system, authorities say they have worked to create social distancing, a public health practice to slow the spread of infection by putting physical space between people and minimizing group activity.

Inmates have stopped dining together, according to officials, who have instead provided grab-and-go meals. Visitation has been canceled, and programming has been modified to limit movement.

All inmates have been given five free 15-minute calls "in an effort to keep families in touch during this challenging time," according to a statement from the department. Vernarelli said the state worked with its phone vendor to ensure fees were waived.

Medical personnel, social workers and chaplains remain at the state facilities to help inmates.