After many months of apparently having no inmates who tested positive for Covid-19 at the Woodbourne Correctional Facility, there are now 32 cases as of December 15.
It all began earlier this month, according to data sent to The SullivanTimes today from the Correctional Association of New York. The numbers below reflect the number of positive cases on each date:
12/3/20: 1 12/7/20: 2 12/8/20: 4 12/9/20: 8 12/10/20: 15 12/15/20: 2
The State Department of Corrections & Supervision's latest data shows 29 cases as of December 15. (See chart below). The SullivanTimes this afternoon reached out to Corrections Department for more information regarding the cases.
A source whose spouse is an inmate there today told The SullivanTimes that her husband was tested last Sunday but still has no results. The source, who did not want to be identified, said that he is being housed with inmates who have tested positive and that no inmates are socially distancing. "These inmates are not safe," she said. "They are being stripped of their rights."
Meanwhile, Woodbourne was just listed by the Department of Corrections & Supervision as one facility that is closed to visitors due to the increase in Covid-19 cases.
"Unfortunately, as a result of the significant increase in COVID-19 infections at Groveland Correctional Facility, effective December 17, 2020, visitation will temporarily be suspended until further notice. Visitation at Attica, Auburn, Bare Hill, Cayuga, Clinton, Wende and Woodbourne Correctional Facilities remains suspended until further notice."
Earlier this month, Governor Cuomo signed a bill that provides the Correctional Association of York with greater access to the state prisons. It "permits the correctional association to access, visit, inspect, and examine all state correctional facilities without advance notice to the department; during such visits the association shall have the power to interview and converse publicly or confidentially with any correctional employee, any incarcerated individual, and any other person providing services in a state correctional facility, whether or not employed by such facility."
A link to that legislation is below. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/a10194
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