PHOENIX — Two southern Arizona inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus in the first cases of infected prisoners reported since the beginning of the outbreak, officials said.
An inmate in the Tucson prison complex had been hospitalized since March 27 due to symptoms unrelated to the coronavirus and previously tested negatively twice at the hospital for the virus, the Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry announced Tuesday night in a statement.
The department did not identify the hospital.
The second inmate tested positive at a privately operated state facility north of Tucson in Marana, the department said. The Marana Community Correctional Treatment Facility is operated by Management and Training Corp. under contract with the state and provides custody and substance abuse treatment for 500 adult male inmates.
“Both inmates are receiving appropriate medical care at their current locations," the department said.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. The vast majority of people recover.
In Arizona, more than 2,700 coronavirus cases with 80 deaths had been reported as of Wednesday.
Prisons are believed to be vulnerable spots for the spread of the coronavirus because inmates with compromised health live in close quarters.
Arizona's corrections system has more than 42,000 inmates.
Prison personnel separate inmates with flu-like symptoms from the general population for monitoring and appropriate care, the department said.
"Like many correctional systems nationwide, the department has experience managing infectious diseases at its facilities and is taking proactive measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in the inmate population. “”
Gov. Doug Ducey said Tuesday that cloth face masks have been obtained for all corrections officers and more testing is planned, but ruled out early release for vulnerable inmates.
“Not only are we focused on protecting public health, we’re continuing to focus on protecting public safety,” he said. “And we’re not going to be releasing any prisoners at this time.”
Advocates for inmates on Tuesday asked the state Department of Health Services director to order inspections of state prisons to help guard against the coronavirus, saying corrections officials have not consistently followed COVID-19 prevention guidelines and have done an inadequate job of keeping the public informed on those efforts.
A coalition of advocacy groups said in a letter that corrections officials have called for weekly deep cleaning of housing areas but that guidelines from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention call for daily cleanings of shared surfaces.
The groups raised questions about whether enough soap was being given to inmates to adequately clean housing areas and practice good hygiene and whether health care checks of employees were being consistently conducted at all prisons.
“The risk to lives of the tens of thousands of people in Arizona prisons and public health of Arizona communities is clear and demands immediate action to protect those who live and work in these facilities, as well as the public at large,” the coalition’s letter said.
In another development related to the pandemic, the Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday issued an order allowing law school students and recent graduates to practice law under the supervision of a licensed attorney before they pass the bar exam.
In a letter to students and new graduates, Chief Justice Robert Brutinel said there’s a chance the July exam will be postponed, although it is still scheduled for now.
Photos for April 1: Tucson gets by during Coronavirus Pandemic
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A dinosaur statue over the doors of MATS Dojo at 5929 E. 22nd St., sports an athletic cup for a face mask in the second week of COVID-19 restrictions, March 31, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
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A pair of protestors use their car to block west bound traffic on Silverlake to let other protestors make the left turn in into the Pima County Adult Detention Complex during a vehicle based demonstration by #FreeThemAll for the release of prisoners in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, March 31, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Raj Paudel hands a bag of food to a customer at Govinda's to-go-tent located at 711 E. Blacklidge Drive, on April 1, 2020.
Tucson, coronavirus
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The biggest hit to employment in Arizona came in the leisure and hospitality industry — hotels, bars, restaurants and places of amusement — which alone shed 5,200 jobs.
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John Aldecoa tapes up a banner outside his restaurant, Brother John's, as he and his staff get ready to serve again after being closed since the COVID-19 restrictions were put in place two weeks ago, April 1, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
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Michael Olivas, right, helps Arnold Vizcaino, City of Tucson Parks and Recreation employees, lock up swings at Gene C. Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, in Tucson, Ariz., on April 1, 2020. The City of Tucson Parks and Recreation employees are going around to all Tucson parks to close all ramadas, gazebos, playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment, all sports courts and fields, horseshoe pits and splash pads due Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
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Caution tape across an entrance on a playground at Gene C. Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, in Tucson, Ariz., on April 1, 2020. City of Tucson Parks and Recreation employees are closing all ramadas, gazebos, playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment, sports courts and more due to the coronavirus outbreak.
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A "CLOSED' sign and caution tape is placed around a ramada at Gene C. Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, in Tucson, Ariz., on April 1, 2020. The City of Tucson Parks and Recreation employees are going around to all Tucson parks to close all ramadas, gazebos, playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment, all sports courts and fields, horseshoe pits and splash pads due Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
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Vanessa Richards, 18, left, and Ella Dotson, 17, adjust their mortar boards and hair in the window of a building along Scott Ave. in downtown Tucson on March 31, 2020. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic the rest of the school year has been canceled. Richards and Dotson are seniors at Marana High School and will not have a formal graduation ceremony. The pair came to downtown to get photos of themselves in their caps and gowns.
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Vanessa Richards, 18, left, and Ella Dotson, 17, take a selfie as their friend, Camilla Hamilton, 17, gets her photo taken by Vanessa’s mother, Chrissi, along Scott Ave. in downtown Tucson on March 31, 2020. Due to the coronavirus, the rest of the school year has been canceled. The Marana High School seniors went downtown to get photos of themselves in their caps and gowns.
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Georgia Goodwin, volunteer, sews masks for hospital workers and the community at Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum, 5701 E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum have made roughly 2,000 masks, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), in one week for local hospitals in Southern Arizona.
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Along with other volunteers and employees, Paula Sanford, center, volunteer, sews masks for hospital workers and the community at Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum, 5701 E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum have made roughly 2,000 masks, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), in one week for local hospitals in Southern Arizona.
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Andy Cathey, Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum employee, sews masks for hospital workers and the community at Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum, 5701 E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum have made roughly 2,000 masks, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), in one week for local hospitals in Southern Arizona.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Andy Cathey, Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum employee, sews masks for hospital workers and the community at Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum, 5701 E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum have made roughly 2,000 masks, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), in one week for local hospitals in Southern Arizona.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Rudy Arriaga, far left, and his mother, Dale, chat with Damian Velez, far right, general manager and Joseph Ashbacher before leaving with their takeout order at Bianchi's Italian Restaurant, 3640 W. Tangerine Road, in Marana, Ariz. on March 30, 2020. The Marana location will closed due to a drop in business.
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A man wearing personal protective equipment works out at FitCore at Morris K Udall Park, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Rd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 29, 2020.
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Ruby Boulet-Stephenson waters the family's new backyard garden, on March 27, 2020.
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Roccos Little Chicago Pizzeria sports the phrase "Eat the Rich" on its marquee, on March 31, 2020. The local pizza spot is currently closed due to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19.)
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A pedestrian crosses Church Avenue near the Historic Pima County Courthouse in a nearly-empty downtown Tucson during the coronavirus pandemic in spring 2020.
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A bank customer wears gloves while at a drive up ATM at Chase Bank, 8701 E. Broadway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 29, 2020.
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While traveling through Tucson, Canadians Lauri Buchanan and her husband Brian Buchanan, left, eat lunch with their friends Rhonda McDonald and her husband Pat McDonald, right, from Wyoming, outside of Whataburger, 6504 E. 22nd St., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan and Mr. and Mrs. McDonald were eating outside due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
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David Cardinal, a sales associate at The Hub, works with a customer at the gun store located at 1400 S Alvernon Way, on March 28, 2020. The store saw an increase in customers during the last few weeks.
Tucson, coronavirus
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An employee at The Hub, a gun store located at 1400 S Alvernon Way, works with a customer on March 28, 2020. The store saw an increase in customers during the last few weeks.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Cassie Phelps, food service employee for Tucson Unified School District, hands two students lunches and breakfast at Harold Steel Elementary School, 700 S. Sarnoff Dr., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 31, 2020. TUSD is offering lunches and breakfast for students due to schools being canceled because of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
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Jolene Luquin, teaching assistant for Tucson Unified School District, organizes educational packets for a parent at Harold Steel Elementary School, 700 S. Sarnoff Dr., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 31, 2020. The educational packets, for grades K-12, include the curriculum for all classes from science to math to history and others. It allows the students, parents and teachers to keep learning despite not being in the classroom, according to Karla Escamilla, TUSD public information officer. TUSD plans to have most of the paperwork online in the next couple of weeks, said Escamilla, as well as issue laptops to students who don't have access to a computer. TUSD is issuing these packets and online school due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
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After more than a week in isolation, Tami and Tedd Handy get the chance to dance as Mama Coal, Carra Stasney and Tim O'Connor give a street concert on Placita de Zacatal in the Casas Adobes neighborhood, Saturday, March 28, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
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Mama Coal, Carra Stasney and Tim O'Connor take to the great outdoors along Moonshroud Dr., in Catalina Shadows, Saturday, March 28, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
