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127 inmates, 10 staff members test positive as Newport prison outbreak surges

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NEWPORT — There are 100 new cases of Covid-19 among incarcerated individuals and eight new staff cases in the outbreak at Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport.

The cases were detected in testing conducted yesterday.

There are currently 127 positive incarcerated cases and ten positive staff cases at the facility.

Health officials say contact tracing is underway.

The entire facility will be tested again on Thursday and has been in full lockdown since receipt of the first positive results on February 25.

All other state facilities are in modified lockdown.

“This is the largest outbreak at a Vermont correctional facility since the start of the pandemic, and it’s all hands on deck for our response,” said Commissioner Jim Baker. “Northern State is now being treated like a hospital.”

As of Tuesday, a total of 12 staff and 127 incarcerated individuals are positive for the virus throughout Vermont correctional facilities.

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