DPS: No New Positive COVID Tests Reported at HCCC

The state Department of Public Safety on Wednesday, Feb. 23, reported no new positive COVID-19 tests among inmates or staff members at Big Island correctional facilities.

The department’s update included a recent total batch of 14 inmate tests from Hawai‘i Community Correctional Center in Hilo, all of which came back negative.

COVID testing is continuously being conducted in the state’s prisons and jails, as well as in the contracted Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy, Ariz.

The latest testing updates for correctional facilities are as follows:

• Hawai‘i Community Correctional Center: 14 negative inmate test results.
• Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center: Nine inmate results; two positive, seven negative. Seven inmates have recovered.
• Halawa Correctional Facility (O’ahu): One positive staff result was reported.
• Maui Community Correctional Center: 37 negative inmate test results. There were also nine negative staff test results reported.
• O‘ahu Community Correctional Center: Two negative inmate test results.

The Department of Public Safety continues to encourage all staff and inmates to voluntarily get tested and receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

For more detailed inmate testing data, the department’s Pandemic Plan and information about response efforts made to safeguard inmates, staff and the public, visit the DPS dedicated COVID-19 webpage.