125893960_web1_Coronavirus--1-

78 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Luzerne County; 2,751 statewide

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DALLAS &mdash; Department of Corrections (DOC) officials Tuesday reported the first SCI Dallas inmate death due to COVID-19.
				According to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, the 74-year-old inmate, who died on Oct. 26, had been a long-term care patient at the prison with numerous underlying medical conditions. He was tested for COVID-19 on Oct. 13. On Oct. 15, the prison was notified that his results were positive, and he was taken to a local hospital due to his medical condition having deteriorated.
				The inmate &mdash; whose name will not be provided &mdash; had a Do Not Resuscitate order. He was serving a 16- to 60-year sentence for rape. He entered the state prison system on June 19, 1992, and had been at SCI Dallas since Dec. 1, 1992.
				&ldquo;We continue our battle against this dangerous invisible enemy,&rdquo; said Corrections Secretary John Wetzel. &ldquo;With fall upon us, we are experiencing a resurgence. That is why it is vital to continue our aggressive mitigation efforts. We cannot let our guard down.&rdquo;
				This is the DOC&rsquo;s 14th inmate death due to COVID-19.
				According to a recent study by the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ), Pennsylvania is one of only six states where the COVID death rate in prison is lower than the state&rsquo;s community COVID death rate: <a href="https://counciloncj.foleon.com/covid19/report/corrections" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://counciloncj.foleon.com/covid19/report/corrections</a>/.
				As of Oct. 26, 21 SCI Dallas employees have reported testing positive for COVID-19. Employees who have tested positive must isolate at their homes and cannot return to work until they provide a doctor&rsquo;s note clearing them to return.
				Also as of Oct. 26, the prison reports a total of 12 active inmate COVID-19 cases, all of which are in isolation either at the prison&rsquo;s infirmary or local hospitals.
				&ldquo;What we are seeing across our system is that housing units or entire prisons can be quarantined at any given moment,&rdquo; Wetzel said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve directed our staff to act aggressively and quickly when inmates report influenza-like illnesses, and that includes locking down units or entire prisons as needed. COVID-19 is here and our staff is constantly working to protect inmates. The congregate environment is one where COVID-19 can thrive, and our goal is to prevent that from happening.&rdquo;

SCI Dallas reports first inmate death due to COVID-19