COVID outbreak at Connell prison infects 12 inmates and 4 staff

Coyote Ridge has become the new hot spot for COVID-19 in the state prison system.

The Department of Corrections reported 13 inmates and four staff members have contracted the new coronavirus.

The Monroe Correctional Complex has reported about 10 cases more than the Connell prison. The Western Washington minimum security facility had 18 inmates and 9 staff contract the disease.

Officials are working on contact tracing for the people infected to see who they have been close to.

The medium-security and long-term minimum security facility in Connell houses more than 2,400 inmates.

All other inmates have been quarantined for 10 days starting Tuesday and all classes and other programming have been suspended.

Before the outbreak, department officials said they were asking inmates to maintain a 6-foot distance from each other, and required correctional officers to wear masks.

The state also reduced the prison population, as well to tried to keep people separated. That included the expected release of 50 convicted Tri-Cities felons from state prisons.

The Connell prison off Highway 395 is home to one of two food factories in the state prison system. The facility at Coyote Ridge produces more than 9,200 gallons of sauces and stews, as well as 167,000 burritos.

The food is sold back to the Department of Corrections to feed prisoners. Correction officials told the Spokesman-Review that there is enough food in storage to last through the 10-day quarantine.

During the pandemic, Coyote Ridge textile workers also were in to action to make hospital gowns for medical workers.

The state reported in April that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

At the time, the news brought several complaints from inmates about staff members not taking the potential for an outbreak seriously.

As of Tuesday, there are 41 employees and 40 inmates statewide who have tested positive for COVID-19.

This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 12:53 PM.