Coronavirus Montville: 2nd Corrigan-Radgowski Inmate Positive

UNCASVILLE, CT — A second person held at Corrigan-Radgowski has tested positive for the new coronavirus. The prison has been placed on lock down, corrections officials said. Corrections officials refer to the person as an "offender;" many at the facility are held in lieu of bail.

A 24-year-old man at the Uncasville prison began exhibiting symptoms last Thursday and, corrections officials said, he "was removed and isolated from the rest of the facility’s population. He was subsequently tested, and a positive result was confirmed."

The man was being held in a two-person cell in the Corrigan building before he began having symptoms. His cellmate was tested as were eight other people being held for "possible exposure" and officials said they are "awaiting results of those tests."

"A review of which staff members the offender interacted with has been conducted
and proper notifications are being made," Connecticut Department of Corrections officials said in a press release, adding the prison has been placed on "lockdown status effective immediately."

Monday, officials announced the first positive case in the state prison system, that one of a 32-year-old man at Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center.

Officials said yesterday that"as soon as it was suspected the offender had symptoms consistent with the COVID-19 virus he was isolated from the rest of the population. Once the positive test result was confirmed, he was placed in a negative pressure isolation room. The negative pressure room, which allows for air to flow into, but not escape from the room - thus containing airborne contaminants within the room, is located in the Corrigan building of the correctional facility."

“We are resolute in the belief that the Department’s mitigation efforts, along with
the efforts of our incredible staff, will allow us to weather this storm,” DOC
Commissioner Rollin Cook was quoted as saying in the statement.

“We continue to release offenders in a responsible fashion so as not to overwhelm community resources. Within our facilities the DOC provides shelter, nutrition, counseling and healthcare. Many offenders would not have access to these essentials in the community.”

The state corrections department said it has "taken several steps to mitigate
the spread of the COVID-19 virus to include: the suspension of outside visits;
wellness checks of anyone entering the building; ongoing disinfecting efforts; all
new intakes being placed in 14-day isolation units; and the reduction of interfacility transfers."

It also says that it's "focused on responsibly releasing those offenders who are
eligible back into the community. As a result of these efforts, the agency’s incarcerated population dropped below 12,000 for the first time in nearly 27 years."

The press release says, "In March alone the offender population has dropped by more than 500 individuals from 12,409 on March 1, 2020 to 11,900 on March 30, 2020."