BRIDGETON — Cases of COVID-19 continue to grow at a South Jersey prison that already has seen four fatalities.
The number of inmates and staff members at South Woods State Prison who have tested positive for the new coronavirus nearly doubled in less than two weeks, according to the most recent state data.
Sixteen staff members and 42 inmates tested positive, according to that data, obtained from the N.J. Department of Corrections website.
Ten days ago, those numbers were nine and 21, respectively.
So far, the facility has seen four inmate deaths attributed to the disease. Their identities have not been released by authorities, who have cited privacy concerns.
Cases also are increasing at Southern State Correctional Facility, Maurice River Township, which has reported 62 employees and 70 inmates tested positive, a stark increase compared to 10 days ago, when their totals were 59 and 14, respectively.
Bayside State Prison, also in Maurice River Township, has reported four employees and six inmates testing positive, a slight increase from three each.
Neither Southern State nor Bayside has reported an inmate death attributed to COVID-19.
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