More than 300 test positive for COVID-19 at Kentucky prison
More than 300 people at a Kentucky prison have confirmed cases of the coronavirus after Gov. Andy Beshear mandated testing across the facility.
Beshear announced 309 new cases at Green River Correctional Complex at Central City, Kentucky, WLKY reported.
»COMPLETE COVERAGE: CORONAVIRUS
Two inmates and two staff members of the facility are hospitalized. Two deaths have been confirmed due to COVID-19, WLKY reported.
Executive Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown said the facility had its first two positive tests from staff members March 25. The first inmate case was April 5.
Kayleigh Watson, the girlfriend of one of the inmates, told WHAS 11 the news of the cases was sad.
“I was really heartbroken. It was the most disappointing news,” Watson said. “They say that they have it under control, but it just blatantly shows that they don’t.”
LEX 18 reported that Green River has multiple clusters of buildings, so inmates will be separated into different housing units.
“One of those units will be used to house those who have tested positive. That way we can isolate them from the rest of the population,” said Brown. “Another unit will be used to [house] those who have tested negative but have had some direct exposure to someone else who has been positive -- either immediately or in the past. The third will be used to [house] those who have tested negative but have not had any direct exposure to other inmates.”
More than 1,081 people at the facility have been tested, and officials are waiting for the results of 52 others. According to state data as of May 6, Kentucky has more than 5,900 positive cases of COVID-19 and 283 deaths.
About the Author
Kelcie Willis is a writer and online content producer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Sociology from the University of Georgia. At the AJC, she covers state, regional and national news with the Content Curation Desk.
