MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — The Montana State Prison has locked down due to an outbreak of the coronavirus in the facility, the state Department of Corrections said.
The lockdown starting Friday occurred after the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the prison jumped from eight to 36, the Missoulian reported.
The Department of Corrections said 23 prison employees have also tested positive for the coronavirus.
“To help keep the virus from spreading at MSP, the facility has been placed on quarantine, allowing extremely limited movement of offenders within the facility,” Department of Corrections spokeswoman Carolynn Bright said. “At this time, MSP inmates who are positive for COVID-19 are either being isolated in their cells or cohorted with other COVID-19-positive inmates.”
The prison in southwest Montana houses about 1,500 inmates and employs about 700 staff members.
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