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OCCC Tests Show 19 Positives After Outbreak Declared Contained

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Updated: 9/27/2020, 4:11 p.m. The state Department of Public Safety reported 10 inmates tested positive for COVID-19 following another round of testing at the Oahu Community Correctional Center. The results come just a day after the department said the outbreak was "under control." 

The department said of the 91 inmate tests, 81 were negative. Tests on 28 OCCC staff also were negative.

Thus far, 310 OCCC inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus. Ten remain active. Ninety-three staff have also tested positive and 27 remain active.

Mass testing continues at other correctional facilities. 

On Friday, results from inmate testing at the Halawa Correctional Facilty came back negative, with 23 tests pending. 

Testing at Kulani Correctional Facility covered 164 inmates and all results were negative. Results from the Waiawa Correctional Facility also were all negative.

“This huge accomplishment of negative broad-based testing results in the inmate population of three prison facilities shows that staff are executing their pandemic plans daily," said Maria Cook, the department's deputy director for administration.

Cook is serving as acting director with the pending retirement of Nolan Espinda, who took a leave of absence after mounting criticism over his handling of the OCCC outbreak.

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