By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Editor
IRMA – Three staff members and no youth at Lincoln Hills School and Cooper Lake School tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Department of Corrections (DOC).
A National Guard Team collected “over 450 specimens” from June 29 to July 1 at the youth detention facility in Irma and the McNaughton Correctional Center in Lake Tomahawk.
DOC Director of Communications John Beard said one of the three staff members who tested positive worked in the housing units. The Health Services unit is continually monitoring youth for symptoms and none had developed as of Friday, July 10.
“Any youth exhibiting symptoms will be tested,” Beard stated.
Beard said any staff members who test positive are directed to self-quarantine at home for 14 days.
“Any employees determined to have had direct or prolonged close contact are notified and directed to quarantine following Department of Health Services and Centers for Disease Control guidelines,” he stated. “Additionally, DOC conducts thorough cleaning and disinfection measures of the sites with positive results.”
All employees are required to wear masks in the facilities. Youth are encouraged to wear face coverings as well, but are not required to.
As of Friday, July 10, 284 people housed in Wisconsin detention facilities had tested positive for COVID-19, according to DOC’s COVID-19 webpage (www.doc.wi.gov/Pages/COVID19(Coronavirus)/COVID19.aspx). 17,594 had tested negative. There were 10 active positive cases, and 272 recovered cases. 1,054 were in quarantine, and 15 were in isolation. Two individuals who tested positive have since been released from incarceration.
90 DOC employees had tested positive for the virus as of July 10, with all three Division of Juvenile Protections staff to test positive working at Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake. 73 worked in the Division of Adult Institutions, and 14 were employed in the Division of Community Corrections. There were 68 active staff cases, and 22 had recovered.