Coyote Ridge has most COVID cases of state prisons. Positive cases soar

Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell now has the highest number of COVID-19 cases among all state prisons.

The state Department of Corrections reported 28 inmates and seven employees have tested positive for the new coronavirus at the facility north of Pasco as of Monday, June 1.

That’s a 75 percent jump from Friday, when state prison officials reported 16 inmates and four staff members tested positive.

As of Wednesday, 14 of the sick inmates were transferred to Airway Heights Corrections Center for treatment and four others were sent to the in-patient unit.

Officials told the Herald on Wednesday they were testing inmates as they developed symptoms. A 10-day quarantine for 1,860 inmates began May 26 at the facility to slow the spread of the virus.

The medium-security and long-term minimum security facility can house more than 2,400 inmates.

Staff members who test positive are to stay home for 14 days.

Of Washington’s 14 state prisons — not counting the prison medical center — just four have had positive inmate cases.

The facility with the second-highest number is Monroe Correctional Complex with 18 inmates and nine staff members who have tested positive as of Monday.

Washington Corrections Center in Shelton and Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla each have had one inmate and two staff members with positive cases.

This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 12:46 PM.