PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — The Department of Corrections in conjunction with the Department of Health conducted a third mass testing event at the South Dakota Women’s Prison. This week, one housing unit consisting of 87 inmates was tested.
A total of 29 inmates in Unit E of the Women’s Prison tested positive for COVID-19. The other 58 inmates in that housing unit tested negative.
There remains only one active case among the inmates that tested positive during the first round of mass testing at the Pierre Community Work Center last month. The rest of the inmates have since recovered.
The inmates that tested positive during the second round of mass testing in housing units C and D remain on isolation status.
In total, 216 inmates in Pierre have tested positive, there have been 253 negative tests, and 117 have recovered. The majority of the positive cases have experienced only mild symptoms. One inmate was hospitalized and has since recovered.
Those numbers will be reflected in the tally that is updated on the DOC website at doc.sd.gov/about/Coronavirus.aspx.
There are currently 402 female inmates housed in the multiple housing units for females in Pierre. The Women’s Prison consists of housing units or cell blocks A, B, C and D. Unit E is a separate building located behind the Women’s Prison. The Pierre Community Work Center is located east of the main prison and the National Guard Armory.
(The S.D. Dept. of Corrections contributed this report/news release.)
