North Dakota prisons take precautions to combat coronavirus

State Penitentiary in Bismarck (ND Dept. of Corrections)

BISMARCK – North Dakota prisons have implemented new safety measures after seven inmates and seven staffers were diagnosed with the coronavirus since the pandemic started. Only three staff have not yet recovered. There have been no related deaths.

Corrections officials made changes to include suspension of prison visitation, quarantining and testing before and after jail transports, and separating groups of inmates by wings and floors of housing.

Department Director Leann Bertsch said antibody testing will begin and the North Dakota’s Department of Health is also looking into wastewater testing to track the virus in prisons.