119 inmates test positive in Goose Creek COVID-19 outbreak

POINT MACKENZIE — The largest prison in Alaska now has the largest outbreak of inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19.

After an inmate initially tested positive for COVID-19 on October 28, 119 inmates have now been confirmed as positive at Goose Creek Correctional Center, which houses over 1,300 inmates. Inmates have been required to quarantine after transferring facilities since the spring, but additional protocols have been put in place at Goose Creek due to the outbreak.

“All transfers in and out of Goose Creek have been suspended for the time being. Additionally, staff are now required to wear surgical face masks (not cloth coverings) as they provide a higher degree of protection. Finally, testing of the quarantine and isolation mods is being conducted every three days until no positive results are received for 14 days instead of on an as needed basis,” said Department of Corrections Public Information Officer Sarah Gallagher.

An inmate at Goose Creek was the first housed inside Alaska correctional facilities to test positive for COVID-19 in late April and the effort to limit the infection to just one inmate was commended by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Now two weeks after the first inmate tested positive, 119 have now also tested positive. Of the housing mods that each contain approximately 100 inmates, one mod is quarantined and another mod is isolated with confirmed positive or symptomatic inmates. There have been 618 tests conducted on inmates. Only one member of the Goose Creek staff has tested positive thus far.

“Staff are advised to seek testing in the community,” said Gallagher.