Westmoreland warden says quarantined prison cell block may reopen this week
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A unit at the Westmoreland County Prison that has been under quarantine since multiple inmates and staff members in early October tested positive for the coronavirus could reopen this week, according to jail officials.
“We’re awaiting results of tests taken Friday, and we fully expect that unit to reopen this Friday once we receive those results,” Warden John Walton said.
He provided the update Monday during a county prison board meeting.
Two employees in the J unit tested positive for coronavirus Oct. 7, followed by three inmates testing positive Oct. 9.
By Oct. 19, the county announced 45 inmates in the unit had tested positive, along with 11 guards. The Hempfield facility was placed in lockdown during the outbreak.
“That unit does not have the normal cell blocks and is more like a dormitory-style unit, so there was not as much separation,” Walton said.
It is an overflow area that can house up to 50 inmates. Inmates in that unit were restricted and not allowed into other sections of the jail or permitted to attend hearings at local magistrate offices or the courthouse.
With the quarantine, repeated specialized cleanings and multiple testings, Walton said the outbreak was contained to the single unit.
The jail has a capacity of 723 inmates. On Oct. 13, the facility housed 491 inmates.
Numerous safety measures were implemented at the start of the pandemic and remain in effect. Those include mask wearing, daily health screenings, quarantining of new prisoners and restrictions on in-person visitation.
Prior to this month’s outbreak, only three recently admitted inmates had tested positive, Walton said.