Corrections COVID-19 Cases at All-Time Low of 8 Statewide

The former Michigan State Prison on Cooper Street, which is surrounded by current Jackson MDOC facilities.  JTV photo.

(June 25, 2021 11:12 AM) The Michigan Department of Corrections is reporting as of 10:30 AM June 25, there are now only 8 active COVID-19 cases among prisoners statewide, with 3 of those cases at Jackson facilities.  This is the lowest number of cases since the start of the pandemic.

MDOC spokesman Chris Gautz credits the reduction in cases to the availability of vaccines.  “We are down to 8 active cases among the prisoners, which is outstanding.  All prisoners have been offered the vaccine and that’s been true for months now. We were very aggressive in getting them access to it, as well as our staff,” Gautz told JTV News.  “We continue to make the vaccines available to prisoners and currently 62% have been vaccinated.”

MDOC reports vaccination statistics weekly to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and a breakdown by facility can be found here.

As of this week, prisoners and staff are no longer required to wear a mask while outside. Prisoners and staff must still maintain social distancing. The Department says trends are moving in the right direction, which allowed the reopening of the state this week, but federal and state public health officials are still concerned about higher potential for COVID-19 transmissions in prisons and have not recommended further changes at this time. MDOC says they will continue to follow that guidance at all their facilities.

MDOC resumed limited in-person visits in March and all visitors are still required to wear their masks at all times.  Masks are still required to still be worn by staff and prisoners at all times while inside any building at the facility, except for when prisoners are eating, sleeping or showering.  Visitors are required to go through a pre-screening process, include a temperature check and an antigen rapid test for anyone two years and older.  

Cumulatively, there have been 26,694 confirmed positive COVID-19 cumulative cases at facilities throughout the state.  Of that statewide total, 5,595 of the confirmed positive cases have been at Jackson facilities. 

In Jackson, there have been 2,825 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases at Charles E. Egeler Reception and Guidance Center, 1,219 at Cooper Street Correctional Facility, 39 at Duane Waters Health Center, 964 at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility, and 548 at Parnall Correctional Facility.   All numbers are cumulative. 

Among staff, there have been a total of 4,403 COVID-19 positive cases statewide.  In Jackson, there have been 259 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases among employees at Charles E. Egeler Reception and Guidance Center, 162 at Cooper Street Correctional Facility, 151 at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility, 4 at Jackson Regional Warehouse, 7 at Jackson Regional Office, 2 at Jackson Training Center and 126 at Parnall Correctional Facility.  All numbers are cumulative. 

There have been a total of 141 deaths (statewide) of prisoners who had tested positive for COVID-19, 33 of those deaths were among prisoners at Jackson facilities.  

Among MDOC staff, six corrections professionals have passed away after contracting coronavirus:  a corrections transportation officer, an office worker, two corrections officers, a sergeant, and a mental health professional.

Testing continues daily at all facilities. The Department has conducted a total of 1,252,238 COVID tests among prisoners and staff since the start of the pandemic.  When prisoners are set to parole, discharge or other such movements, they are tested again and are not moved until the test results return.

The Michigan Department of Corrections is listed as a separate jurisdiction in the daily MDHHS report of positive cases in the state. All other cases are reported by county.  MDOC prisoner cases are not included in the county cumulative numbers or in the numbers reported by the Jackson County Health Department.