OCCC Inmate Tests Positive for COVID-19

O’ahu Community Correctional Center

A new inmate at O‘ahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) tested positive for COVID-19, officials confirmed Friday afternoon. This is the first confirmed inmate case within the Department of Public Safety.

In unrelated cases, one adult correctional officer (ACO) at the Halawa Correctional Facility (HCF) and two ACOs at the Waiawa Correctional Facility (WCF) have reported positive COVID-19 test results. The HCF ACO received the positive test results Thursday. The two WCF ACOs tested positive Aug. 4 and Aug. 6.

The inmate was brought to OCCC Monday and was placed in a mandatory 14-day intake quarantine, as is procedure for all new inmates. The inmate was tested on Tuesday after the department learned of possible exposure to the virus prior to entry.

“The facility acted quickly to implement the Department’s COVID-19 pandemic protocol for correctional facilities, in an effort to mitigate any potential spread of the virus,” said Nolan Espinda, Public Safety Director. “Since the beginning of this pandemic, we have been working closely with the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure all DOH and CDC guidelines are followed in our facilities, so we can maintain the health and welfare of our staff and the incarcerated population.”

All facilities follow the PSD Pandemic Response Plan, which falls in line with CDC and DOH guidelines for identifying and isolating inmates who fit the CDC and DOH criteria for testing, officials stated in a press release Friday. If an inmate presents symptoms of respiratory illness or has had possible contact with a known COVID-19 positive individual, PSD Health Care Division’s staff will perform a full evaluation, including testing for COVID-19 and common infectious respiratory illnesses such as influenza.

Health care staff conduct onsite specimen collection using the nasopharyngeal swab and submit the specimen for testing.

Inmates pending testing are immediately placed in medical isolation. The facilities have longstanding outbreak management plans in place to quickly identify, isolate and treat communicable diseases the release indicates. The staff remains vigilant in their efforts to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19.

“DOH is conducting contact tracing and we will follow through with implementing their guidance and directives. Thankfully, the risk to other employees and inmates is believed to be minimal because all staff regularly practice the necessary safety and sanitation precautions called for in their facilities Pandemic Control Plan, all of which have been ingrained in everyone over the past few months,” said Espinda.

Staff have reminded the inmates of proactive ways they can help prevent the spread of germs, including covering their coughs and sneezes, frequent handwashing, sanitizing their common living areas, refraining from sharing cups and utensils with others, and limiting close contact. They have also been reminded, if they aren’t feeling well, to report it immediately.

PSD will continue to closely monitor the spread of COVID-19 and make additional operational and preventative decisions as the situation in Hawaii evolves.