Special to Atmore News
Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) officials announced last week that three more state inmates, including one housed at Fountain Correctional Facility near Atmore, have tested positive for COVID-19.
The other two new cases were reported at Draper Quarantine Intake Facility in Elmore, Alabama) – two (2) inmates.
Newly identified positive case(s) 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.
Corrections officials reported that 1,654 total cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed through May 26, among the state’s inmate population, four of which remain active.
ADOC is in the process of offering free COVID-19 vaccinations to inmates who wish to receive a vaccine.
ADOC also reported that 8,813 inmates have participated in the vaccination process as of May 26:
No additional staff members have self-reported a positive test result for COVID-19 as of May 26.
Six COVID-19 cases among ADOC staff and contracted staff remain active through May 26, while 1,043 staff members who previously self-reported a positive test had been cleared by medical providers to return to work.
The ADOC has completed its scheduled process of offering free COVID-19 vaccinations to staff and contracted staff who wished to receive a vaccine through the department. As the inmate vaccination process continues, staff members still have the option to get vaccinated at an ADOC facility if they so desire.
Eight hundred fifty-five staff members had received a vaccination through the department through May 26. (Facility-level vaccination data only reflects how many ADOC staff members have received the vaccine through the department — it does not include staff who have received a vaccine through a community provider.)