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COVID-19 spread

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More than 47.5 percent of prisoners housed in one unit at the Lexington Correctional Center have tested positive for COVID-19, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections reports.

Eighty seven men who tested positive in the past 24 hours are now in isolation.

Results of six additional tests are pending, according to ODOC.

None of the 87 reported symptoms prior to testing, the department reported.

The Cleveland County Health Department tested 185 inmates quarantined together after two housed in the unit tested positive during hospital visits.

An investigation and contact tracing already under way for the first two inmates will be expanded to include the 87 new positives.

That is being done by prison staff working with the Cleveland County Health Department.

As a precaution, ODOC has asked the health department test remaining inmates at the adjoining Lexington Assessment and Reception Center. 

Statewide there are 103 persons in ODOC custody who have tested positive for the virus.

Since mid-March ODOC staff has strictly followed all guidelines offered by the CDC, World Health Organization and Oklahoma State Health Department, going to great lengths to combat the pandemic. That includes screening all staff members before every shift; providing masks to all inmates, staff, and visitors; deploying inmate clean teams; limiting transfers and movement of inmates and ensuring all inmates have access to proper sanitation and hygiene products.

Recently, ODOC deployed a battery of disinfecting foggers. Within minutes, these portable machines emit a fine mist of disinfectant across every surface inside a room.

Visitation at all state facilities is cancelled this weekend. Next weekend, structured visitation will resume on a bi-weekly basis for immediate family members.

Visitors must follow all Centers for Disease Control guidelines, including wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, symptoms screening and scheduling visits.

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