138 Inmates At Sterling Prison Test Positive For Coronavirus

STERLING, CO — At least 138 inmates at Colorado's Sterling Correctional Facility have tested positive for the new coronavirus, state officials confirmed Friday. The facility worked with state health officials to test 473 inmates Wednesday.

“Given the insidious nature of this virus we had suspected that despite seeing a relatively low number of inmates with symptoms, the number of positives was potentially much higher,” Dean Williams, the Department of Corrections executive director, said in a statement.

“That is exactly why we conducted this large scale testing, so that we can continue to isolate, monitor and treat any inmates who were positive and try to mitigate the spread to others inside the facility.”

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Since April 14, Sterling Correctional Facility has been on Phase III modified operations, which require that inmates remain in their cells during the quarantine period, officials said. All meals and medications are delivered to inmates in their units. The inmates have access to their personal property during the quarantine period, as well as access to mail.

The facility has continued to undergo extensive cleaning multiple times a day and staff and inmates are all required to wear face coverings in the facility at all times, officials said. All inmates on the east side of the facility are undergoing temperature checks twice daily as an additional screening measure.

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