TOPEKA, Kansas – Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Secretary Jeff Zmuda announced Thursday that one resident at the Norton Correctional Facility’s (NCF) Stockton Satellite Facility tested positive for COVID-19, according to a media release from the KDOC.
This is the eighth KDOC facility with a confirmed case, with the first cases reported at Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF), Wichita Work Release Facility, Topeka Correctional Facility, Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex, El Dorado Correctional Facility, Ellsworth Correctional Facility and Hutchinson Correctional Facility.
The resident at NCF is a male over the age of 30. In order to protect the identity of the person, no other information will be released. Mandatory mask protocol for staff and residents was implemented on July 3.
The KDOC has been in consultation with officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on next steps to address these circumstances. As a result of that consultation with KDHE, the following steps were implemented:
- The East Unit, consisting of 96 men, will quarantine in place for a minimum of 14 days
- Testing of the entire living unit and staff will be conducted
- Contact tracing was conducted to determine who among our staff and residents have been in close contact with this individual
- KDOC will remain diligent in monitoring other staff and residents for symptoms
“As positive COVID-19 cases in Kansas continue to rise toward record levels, family members are undoubtedly worried about their loved ones in our prison system,” Zmuda said. “All of our residents are important to us and we will work diligently to ensure their continued health and wellbeing.”