Three staff members of Kansas prison test positive for coronavirus, officials say
Three staff members of a Kansas prison have tested positive for COVID-19, the state’s department of corrections announced Tuesday night.
The three employees — a man over the age of 20 and two women over 40 — work at the Lansing Correctional Facility, the Kansas Department of Corrections said in a statement.
These are the first positive cases reported within a facility operated by KDOC.
Statewide, at least 428 cases of COVID-19 have been identified as of Tuesday, and nine people have died from the disease.
The state prison system says it has been consulting with officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on next steps. It said it is working to notify others who have been in close contact with the staff members and is moving inmates who have had close contact with them to medical isolation, where they will be monitored for symptoms.
“With a virus that moves and changes as quickly as the coronavirus we anticipated that this day may come,” KDOC Secretary Jeff Zmuda said in a statement. “With the support and guidance of KDHE and Governor (Laura) Kelly, and the hard work of our staff members, we are ready to care for our residents and those we serve in the community.”
