NASHVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) has launched a third round of mass testing for inmates at three facilities as part of its plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Testing began on Sunday, April 19, for an additional 3,100 inmates at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex, the Northwest Correctional Complex and the Turney Center Industrial Complex
This third round of testing follows Saturday’s response, in which 424 inmates at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex were tested. Of those, 150 inmates tested positive and have been isolated form the rest of the population at the facility. According to TDOC, the vast majority of those who tested positive were asymptomatic. 262 tests were negative and 12 results are still pending.
Positive inmate test results since April 4 are as follows:
- Bledsoe County Correctional Complex: 162
- Turney Center Industrial Complex: 5
- Northwest Correctional Complex: 2
- Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility: 1
All inmates at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex are being tested as a response to the number of positive cases and out of an abundance of caution.
“The decision to expand testing at the Northwest and Turney Center prisons is based on the positive returns, extensive contact tracing and a sound methodology,” Commissioner Tony Parker said. “The inmates who are being tested at these two facilities either had direct exposure to a confirmed positive case, or were screened positive and symptomatic, or those with potential exposure due to the living structure of a correctional environment. A similar methodology has been implemented at Trousdale Turner resulting in the targeted testing of a select number of inmates by the contract vendor. Cloth masks have been provided to all staff and inmates as well as county jails, sheriff’s departments, THP and health care workers.”
For more information on the Tenessee Department of Corrections and their response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit them at their website or on Facebook.