Warm Springs Prison in Carson City on lockdown with 100 COVID-19 cases
On Friday, the Department of Corrections announced that Carson City's Warm Springs Correctional Center is currently on lockdown due to 93 inmate COVID-19 cases, as well as 7 staff COVID-19 cases.
According to a press release, Warm Springs is in lockdown with meals being delivered to each unit. Sanitation measures are being increased throughout the facility daily.
Warm Springs employees are required to wear N95 masks at all times and full gowns when entering the units, according to the press release.
In early September, Warm Springs made headlines in relation to COVID-19 after several inmates alleged that a prison trainee, who later tested positive for COVID-19, had patted down inmates and done cell checks without wearing a mask or gloves. Two units were placed on lockdown at the end of August.
According to Deputy Director Bill Quenga, the cases in August and the current cases are not connected and occurred in different units.
According to NDOC, two staff members at other NDOC facilities have also tested positive for the virus through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing.
All Nevada Department of Corrections employees are tested for COVID-19 every two weeks and offenders are tested every three weeks, the press release said. More frequent tests are administered when necessary.
All staff are required to wear masks at all times and follow proper PPE protocols. All staff are screened for symptoms and temperatures are taken before entering any facility.
WSCC employees are required to wear N95 masks at all times and full gowns when entering the units, according to NDOC.
“We will manage the outbreak as we have a first-class outbreak response plan and talented professionals committed to executing the plan,” said Charles Daniels, Director of the Nevada Department of Corrections. “I do believe our protocols will mitigate the spread of the virus not only at Warm Springs but the rest of the agency as well.”
The Department has implemented testing facility-wide and the remainder of WSCC’s population of 525 offenders and all staff will be tested Friday and Saturday.
NDOC will continue to monitor the situation at all facilities.