64 Test Positive For Coronavirus At Delaware County Prison

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — A total of 64 inmates and staff at George W. Hill Correctional Facility have tested positive for coronavirus, officials at the Delaware County prison confirmed on Sunday.

The virus has infected 22 inmates and 42 staff members, according to a letter sent by the facility's administrator to the Jail Oversight Board Chair. Officials said that most of those who have been infected have already recovered, including 18 of the 22 inmates. No deaths have been reported.

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It's not clear exactly when the virus first arrived at the facility, but officials noted that they have been combating it "since the beginning."

The 22 infected inmates represents about four percent of George W. Hill's total inmate population. Officials did not say how many inmates were presently in quarantine. At nearby Montgomery County Correctional Facility, the virus has been confirmed in two inmates and three corrections officers, and 210 inmates were in quarantine as of Friday.

In his letter, facility administrator David Byrne praised the work of staff members.

"I commend the men and women who step into this facility to fulfill our mission of maintaining a safe environment, as they are part of the frontline workers across the nation helping to combat the virus," Byrne said. "They have heeded the strict protocols and guidelines provided by the CDC and local health departments in order to stop the spread of the virus."

He added that all employees who test positive and must leave work will still be paid, even if they didn't contract the virus while at work.

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