The Hawaii Department of Public Safety (PSD) has directed CoreCivic to conduct mass testing of all Hawaii inmates at their Saguaro Correctional Center (Saguaro) in Eloy, AZ. The broad-based testing being administered by CoreCivic Health Services staff will began Thursday.
Broad-based testing of Hawaii inmates at the Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy, AZ was completed Thursday for 1,011 inmates. Results are expected to take up to three days. The total number of Hawaii inmates in medical isolation at Saguaro with active positive COVID cases is currently 61. There are six inmates in the hospital. The Hawaii inmates with pending test results will remain in a precautionary 14-day quarantine until the results are received.
“The Department is in constant communication with the Saguaro facility administration. The Warden and I both agreed that expedited testing is necessary to identify hotspots and contain the spread. Saguaro is bringing in nurses from other facilities so they can accomplish testing in one day. The facility has its isolation/quarantine plans ready to go once results are received, and staff have assured us they are following the CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines for correctional facilities,” says Fred Hyun, acting PSD director.
On top of testing, Saguaro also assures PSD that the facility will continue to implement stringent sanitation and hygiene measures to limit potential exposure and mitigate the spread of coronavirus to inmates and staff.
For more information on Saguaro Correctional Center operations and CoreCivic’s COVID-19 procedure please go to CoreCivic’s COVID-19 web page at corecivic.com/en/corecivic-statement-on-covid-19-prevention.
On this page you will find a lot of information including the items below, implemented at Saguaro, to limit potential exposure and prevent the spread of coronavirus to inmates and staff:
• Enhanced cleaning/disinfecting and hygiene practices
• Suspended inmate social in-person visitation as of March 18
• Suspended all volunteer visits to the facility
• Implemented enhanced screening of employees with no-touch infra-red thermometer and verbal health screening questionnaire
• Conducting bi-weekly town hall meetings with all inmates —sharing information and, reminders of importance of good health habits and reporting of fever, cough and/or respiratory issues immediately
• Suspended medical co-pays
• Temporarily suspended non-essential programming
• Placed posters/signage in housing units and staff areas showing how to stop the spread of germs
• Medical screened the entire Hawaii population and identified inmates in the higher risk category due to ongoing health issues. These inmates have been moved to separate housing units away from the general population.
There are currently 1,082 Hawaii inmates at Saguaro.
The Halawa Correctional Facility on Oahu reported a positive test result for one (1) employee who last worked on Monday. PSD is working with DOH on contact tracing at the facility. DOH testing of Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) inmates and staff is continuous. Of the 49 inmate test results received, only one was positive. There are no OCCC inmates in the hospital. All 18 OCCC staff results received were negative. PSD’s Health Care Division is working with DOH, the Hawaii National Guard (HING) and community partners, to conduct mass testing for COVID-19 at all other correctional facilities statewide. The Kauai Community Correctional Center received 26 negative staff re-test results. Additionally, 90% of PSD staff who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered. Information on PSD’s planning and response to COVID-19 can be found at: http://dps.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/03/17/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-resources.
For more information on PSD’s planning and response to COVID-19, inmate testing data, and information detailing the efforts made to safeguard the inmates, staff and public, visit our webpage at: dps.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/03/17/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-resources.