State Prison Enters ‘Code-Red’ Lockdown Due To Possible COVID-19 Outbreak
Oct 30, 2020, 3:49 PM | Updated: 5:47 pm
(Utah Department of Corrections)
DRAPER, Utah – Officials with the Utah Department of Corrections said the Utah State Prison entered a “code-red” lockdown due to the possibility of a second COVID-19 outbreak.
The lockdown will last for at least the next 24 hours, according to prison officials.
“As we continue to work through this very fluid situation, please know that incarcerated individuals’ basic needs will continue to be met, including meals and medical care,” officials said.
The Utah State Prison in Draper is currently on a code-red lockdown for at least the next twenty-four hours due to a potential second outbreak. We've provided a detailed update on our COVID-19 webpage here: https://t.co/9k5tJSEW7T
— UTDeptofCorrections (@UtahCorrections) October 30, 2020
Two inmates housed in the Oquirrh 5 facility were tested for COVID-19 Thursday night after experiencing symptoms, but their tested came back negative.
Another inmate in Oquirrh 5 tested positive on Friday, and an inmate housed in the Promontory Facility also tested positive.
“We are deeply concerned about this latest outbreak,” officials said. “Oquirrh 5 is where our most medically vulnerable incarcerated individuals reside and it’s where we’ve taken the greatest precautions since the beginning of the pandemic to keep them safe.”
Crews from the Utah Health Department and Utah Department of Public Safety were working to assist prison officials to test the entire prison population of 2,580, beginning with Oquirrh 5 and Promontory inmates.
“Our Promontory Facility is dormitory-style housing, which means that exposure may be significant by the time the first case is confirmed,” prison officials said. “Our staff are working quickly now to accommodate isolation and quarantine needs.”