RICHMOND, Va. -- Three women at the Correctional Center for Women in Goochland have tested positive for COVID-19, the Virginia Department of Corrections confirmed late Tuesday. The female inmates are the first within Virginia's prison system to test positive.
Additionally, three Virginia Department of Corrections employees and one contractor also tested positive Tuesday.
"All VADOC facilities are operating on modified lockdown in order to minimize contact between groups of offenders from different buildings," a VDOC spokesperson said. "Virginia Correctional Enterprises is manufacturing tens of thousands of sneeze/cough guard masks for use by Virginia DOC staff and offenders."
The infected employees include one officer in training at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women (VCCW); one correctional officer at Indian Creek Correctional Center; and one employee at the Norfolk Probation and Parole office. The contractor is a nurse at VCCW.
"While visitation and volunteer activities at correctional facilities are cancelled due to the pandemic, video visitation, email, and phone calls are available to offenders," the spokesperson continued. "The Virginia DOC’s extensive Medical Epidemic/Pandemic Sanitation Plan is in place to make certain that all VADOC facilities ensure accurate sanitation while utilizing appropriate chemicals and approved personal protective equipment."
This is a developing story.