A Lemon Creek Correctional Center corrections officer is the first Alaska Department of Corrections faculty member to test positive for the coronavirus, according to DOC.<\/p>\n
The Department of Corrections announced the positive test Thursday night. <\/p>\n
“DOC is working with the State Epidemiology team and are currently reviewing institutional video and building a list of close contacts — to include both staff and inmates,” said Sarah Gallagher, a DOC spokesperson, in an email. “DOC is working closely with state and public health officials to follow the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) containment models in an effort to quickly identify, notify and quarantine any individuals who may have been exposed.”<\/p>\n
Gallagher confirmed the employee is a corrections officer, but it’s the state’s policy not to release any more information about patients. Part of the efforts of the state will be to identify and test anyone the patient may have come in contact with. No inmates have yet tested positive, Gallagher said.<\/p>\n
“Following our plan, Lemon Creek provided cloth face coverings to all inmates and staff to prevent further possible transmission of the virus,” Gallagher said. “Fortunately, DOC has been heavily engaged in proactive mitigation efforts for weeks in anticipation of a positive case in a facility, and we were ready for this moment.”<\/p>\n