168 Essex Inmates, Staff Test Positive For Coronavirus: Sheriff

DANVERS, MA – Testing of all inmates, employees and vendors at the Essex County Jail in Middleton returned 168 positive cases out of nearly 1,400 tests conducted this weekend as the prison deals with its biggest coronavirus outbreak since the health crisis began in April.

Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger said 137 inmates and 21 employees returned with positive tests with Coppinger saying 70 percent of inmates were showing no symptoms.

"Having very limited cases since April, and zero cases the past two months, the virus surged back to weeks ago," Coppinger said in a video release Monday night. "Because of the sharp increase I reached out to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for guidance in controlling the spread. The decision was made to test every inmate and every sheriff’s department employee and vendor."

Coppinger said on Tuesday everyone at the county’s facilities in Lawrence and Salisbury will be tested and that "when this testing is done we anticipate we will see more positive cases."

The Middleton facility was one of two prisons in the state reporting outbreaks this weekend, along with the Department of Correction's Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center in Plymouth.

Coppinger said health care partners are monitoring all positive cases and “every case is being treated accordingly and comfort and care are our highest priorities.”

He said 889 inmates and 491 employees and vendors were tested in Middleton.

The outbreak comes as coronavirus numbers increased across the state in recent weeks. Essex County was second only to Suffolk County in cases due, in part, to the outbreaks at the county jails and an outbreak among students at Merrimack University in North Andover.

Beverly cited the increase in positive tests county-wide when the city’s Board of Health issued an order preventing businesses to enter step 2 of phase 3 of the state’s reopening this week – which would have allowed for 10 people per table at restaurants, increased capacity at many businesses and the opening of roller skating, laser tag and other indoor recreational facilities.

“By testing everyone we now where each and every case resides and our response is stronger and more effective,” Coppinger said, adding that masks have been mandatory in all prison facilities since April.

Related Patch Coverage: Coronavirus Outbreaks Surge At Massachusetts Jails