More Staff Than Prisoners Test Positive for COVID At Wyoming Men’s Prisons

More staff than inmates at Wyoming’s men’s prisons have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past month, the Department of Corrections said.

Since July 23rd, the state has reported 43 cases of COVID-19 among staff at the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins and the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington.

A total of 20 inmates in those two facilities tested positive over the same period of time.

A Wyoming Department of Corrections spokesperson says the trend used to be the other way around.

About 35% of prison employees report being fully vaccinated, compared to 64% of inmates, the agency said.

Vaccinations are not required for anyone, but are offered to employees and inmates.

Inmates are still wearing face coverings and social distancing.

Most of the positive cases among inmates are found, when they are tested when they arrive at a facility.

The only facility that did not experience an outbreak during the peak of the pandemic was the Wyoming Women’s Center in Lusk.

This month, the women’s prison has reported five cases among staff and 11 among inmates.