Aerial shot of the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility, also known as the Golden Grove Correctional Facility on St. Croix. Photo Credit: ERNICE GILBERT/ V.I. CONSORTIUM
The V.I. Bureau of Corrections has announced thirteen total cases at its prison/jail facilities just under two months following an outbreak at the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility (Golden Grove Correctional Facility) on St. Croix.
According to a release the bureau issued Monday, all new inmates or detainees are required to receive structured inquiry and observation as soon as the individual is remanded into the facility to get an idea of inmate/detainee urgent health needs, identify and meet any known or easily identifiable needs that require medical intervention and identify and isolate inmates who may be contagious.
At the Criminal Justice Center in St. Thomas, four inmates/detainees and four staff members tested positive for Covid-19, and two inmates/detainees and three staff members tested positive for the virus on St. Croix.
There were no hospitalizations as of January 3, according to B.O.C.
Staff members have also been required to show proof of vaccination, and those who are still unvaccinated will be required to show weekly proof of a negative Covid-19 test.
"The risk of a Covid-19 outbreak or resurgence at a prison or jail increases whenever there is a wide community spread of Covid-19 coupled with the movement of staff and prisoners in and out of a facility," said B.O.C. Director Wynnie Testamark, who as of Monday was not in the USVI. She said the bureau has taken concrete steps to minimize the Covid-19 risk at its facilities in accordance with CDC guidelines.
Both CJC and John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility remains on modified lockdown, with continuous disinfectant and cleaning, according to the release. Inmate movement has been restricted within the facility.
All visits by vendors and all inmate transfers have been suspended until further notice. In-person visits, work details, and prisoner furloughs remain suspended, as they have been since the start of the pandemic. Court hearings held virtually remain unaffected. Attorneys may visit prisoners via secure video conference by contacting the facility to schedule a video visit.
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