Spread contained to incarcerated individuals in a single unit
Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Department of Corrections (Vermont DOC) is reporting three new cases of COVID-19 among incarcerated individuals in the outbreak at Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF) in Newport.
The cases were detected in testing conducted March 18, and are contained to the same unit as the past four rounds of positive incarcerated results. No staff tested positive.
There are currently 33 positive incarcerated cases and three positive staff cases at the facility, where 145 prior positive individuals have been medically cleared to leave isolation, which means they are no longer considered COVID-positive or exhibiting symptoms of the virus.
The entire facility is being tested again today and has been in full lockdown since receipt of the first positive results on February 25. The outbreak began after one staff member and 21 incarcerated individuals tested positive for the virus in testing conducted February 23, 2021.
On Friday, Human Services Secretary Mike Smith said there are two theories on how this unusual outbreak occurred. He emphasized these are only theories. This outbreak occurred despite ongoing precautions against outbreaks.
One theory, and the most likely one he said, is that the virus was brought in by staff and then transmitted to other staff and inmates. This has been a typical transmission path in prisons.
The second theory, Smith described, was perhaps from inmate to inmate. He said this could have happened as one inmate shared prescription medications through the MAT program. The Medication-Assisted Treatment provides an opportunity to help inmates with substance use disorder.
In this case, Smith said, an inmate may have faked swallowing the medication and then later removed it from his mouth and given and perhaps sold it to another inmate. The medication is given to inmates under supervision.
Smith emphasized, however, they are still investigating how this outbreak occurred.
Families and friends of incarcerated individuals are encouraged to reach out to the Vermont DOC Office of Constituency Services with questions: https://doc.vermont.gov/information-inmate-families-and-friends. Click here for the direct link to the online Friends and Family portal.
Daily updates on the COVID-19 response in Vermont’s correctional facilities can be found at https://doc.vermont.gov/covid-19-information-page.
Source: Waterbury, Vt., March 22, 2021 – Vermont Department of Corrections