Dutchess County Jail Shuts Down Because Of Coronavirus Infections

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — A huge spike in coronavirus cases at the Dutchess County Jail has prompted officials to shut the facility in the city of Poughkeepsie down.

Out of an inmate population of around 200, there were 65 inmates Tuesday who had positive cases, the Poughkeepsie Journal said.

Additionally, there are 71 staff members, out of almost 200 employees, who are not at work because they were exposed to the coronavirus or had tested positive for it.

Acting Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati said that inmate activities and movement in the jail have been restricted in an effort to contain transmission, WPDH said.

The restrictions include inmate work roles, and visits, including education and programming, have been suspended for 30 days.

Imperati said that, fortunately, most of the cases of coronavirus are mild.