DPS: No confirmed cases of COVID-19 within Hawaii inmate population in Arizona

There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 among any Hawaii inmates housed at the Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy, Arizona, the state Department of Public Safety said Friday.

Saguaro’s parent company, CoreCivic, confirms that 69 offenders from Nevada, housed in a separate part of the facility, tested positive for COVID-19, the department said. There are a total 80 Hawaii inmates in quarantine. Of the 80, through contact tracing, it was determined that 28 Hawaii inmates may have had possible contact with them. As a precautionary measure, the 28 Hawaii inmates were relocated to vacant housing and will be monitored for symptoms for 14 days, to include daily temperature checks.

In addition, according to the department, 47 Hawaii inmates housed in the same restrictive housing unit with other jurisdictions are being monitored for symptoms for 14 days, to include daily temperature checks. The remaining fuve Hawaii inmates are housed in the medical unit for routine medical appointments unrelated to the precautionary monitoring. Hawaii inmates housed in general population have not been affected.

No Hawaii inmates are exhibiting symptoms of any infectious respiratory illnesses, the department said.

“The department is in constant communication with the Saguaro facility administration. They assure us they are proactively taking all necessary precautions to mitigate any potential spread of the virus inside their facility, to include continual, enhanced screening of anyone entering the facility, and monitoring inmates and staff for signs and symptoms due to possible exposure,” said Nolan Espinda, Public Safety Director.

SCC’s total overall bed capacity is 1,926. As of today, Hawaii inmates occupy a total of 1,125 beds. There are two other states whose inmates occupy beds at Saguaro: Nevada, which currently occupies 99 beds, and Kansas, which occupies 120 beds.