TOTAL COVID CASES AT WOODBOURNE CORRECTIONAL HITS 203 WITH 75 TESTS PENDING - SECOND HIGHEST IN STATE AND WITH POSITIVITY RATE OF 23.7 PERCENT
ACTIVE CASES IN SULLIVAN ON RISE, HIGHEST SINCE MAY 21
LIBERTY POSITIVITY RATE AT 7.1 PERCENT
Positive Covid-19 cases among inmates at Woodbourne Correctional Facility, which started testing prisoners on November 9, have climbed to 203 with 75 tests still pending as of 3 pm on Wednesday. The positivity rate is 23.7 percent.
There is no confirmed information about corrections officers or staff at the facility because the Department of Corrections & Community Supervision does not disclose it for any facility. But a source told The SullivanTimes recently that at least three officers there tested positive.
Acting Corrections Commissioner Anthony Annucci issued a memo to all state prison superintendents on Monday announcing that visitations at all facilities would cease on December 29.
As for the County figures, the 264 active cases of Covid-19 in Sullivan County represents the most since May 21 - while the County's test positivity rate is now at 4.85 percent, according to the latest data provide by the County.
Liberty remains the area with the highest positivity rate at 7.1 percent while all other towns and villages are below 5 percent.
In Liberty, there were possible exposures at the Adult Care Center, Paesano's Pizzeria, Liberty Diner, Casis Family Diner, and Ahava Medical, according to previous public health advisories issues by the County Public Health Services. And, over the past two weeks, the Care Center has reported "staff members" testing positive but did not disclose any numbers.
In addition, there was never any advisory about a confirmed significant outbreak at the Ideal Snacks facility (now owned by Frito-Lay which is owned by Pepsico) a few months ago. Corporate officials at Frito-Lay, too, did not deny the cases there but repeatedly have ignored The SullivanTimes' multiple requests for comment.
County officials thus far has not commented on why the Liberty positivity rate is significantly higher than any other part of the County.
