LOXLEY, Alabama — Nearly 100 inmates at the Loxley Community-Based Facility/Community Work Center tested positive for Coronavirus as the Alabama Department of Corrections is testing inmates in facilities that house large numbers of medically vulnerable inmates, according to an ADOC release issued Tuesday.
The ADOC has verified 163 new positive cases of COVID-19 among the 1,144 inmates who voluntarily participated in this process, according to the release.
In addition to the 94 inmates at the Loxley facility, the North Alabama Community-Based Facility/Community Work Center in Decatur also reported 69 inmates tested positive for the virus.
On Wednesday, Nov. 4, ADOC reported that seven staff members and eight inmates tested positive for Coronavirus as of Monday, Nov. 2, including one inmate at the Loxley facility.
As of Nov. 2, 83 COVID-19 cases among ADOC staff and contracted staff remain active; 405 staff members who previously self-reported a positive test have been cleared by medical providers to return to work.
There have been 711 total cases of COVID-19 confirmed among the state’s inmate population as of Nov. 2, 229 of which remain active.
Newly identified positive cases include inmates who are symptomatic and inmates who are asymptomatic. All existing quarantine protocols held in-place or newly implemented as recommended by the ADOC’s contracted State Medical Director are being maintained at each facility where newly identified positive inmates are currently housed.
ADOC is also in the process of providing free COVID-19 tests to ADOC staff and contracted healthcare staff using fixed and mobile testing sites.
This process is being completed in regional groups of facilities so that appropriate operational, staffing, and quarantine actions can be taken, if necessary, upon receipt and verification of group test results.
“We have completed this process and verified the COVID-19 test results collected at the fourth group of facilities,” according to the release:
The ADOC has verified five new positive cases of COVID-19 among the 80 staff members who voluntarily participated in this process, including one staff member from the Loxley Community-Based Facility/Community Work Center and four staff members from the North Alabama Community-Based Facility/Community Work.
These individuals promptly self-quarantined under the direction of their healthcare providers, according to the release.
The ADOC’s Office of Health Services has initiated investigations to determine which, if any, ADOC inmates or employees may have had direct, prolonged exposure to these staff members. Upon completing the appropriate due diligence, OHS will advise any staff with direct exposure to contact their healthcare providers and self-quarantine as advised.
