More than 170 COVID-19 cases have cropped up at Hawaii Community Correctional Center since May 24.
The state Department of Public Safety reported Thursday 21 new COVID-19 cases among inmates at the Hilo jail, bringing the total number of cases associated with the facility to 173 since May 24. Fifteen of the cases have been among staffers.
To date, 78 inmates and eight staff members have recovered, decreasing the total number of active cases associated with the facility on Thursday to 86. One inmate who tested positive was released May 26 after serving their full term.
Two positive cases were first reported at the Hilo jail on May 24 prompting the facility to implement its pandemic protocol status, which calls for a facility-wide quarantine of all inmate housing and suspending inmate movement going out of the facility.
Hawaii Community Correctional Center, as of its last population report issued June 7, housed 344 inmates, which exceeded operational capacity by 118 persons.