Share, email, print, bookmark SOURCE reports.

[broadstreet zone=”80100″]

FRAMINGHAM – The Massachusetts Department of Corrections is reporting 78 of the 187 inmates at MCI Framingham are positive with the COVID-19.

That is roughly 42% of the inmates.

That good news is that number of 78 has held steady for the last 10 days.

The good news is that 18 of the 78 have recovered from the virus at MCI Framingham.

Overall 174 inmates have recovered from the virus, according to the state.

[broadstreet zone=”59983″]

There have been 8 deaths reported within the Department of Corrections, but none at MCI Framingham. Five deaths at the Massachusetts Treatment center and three deatsh at MCI-Shirley.

As of May 21, the Massachusetts Department of Corrections has provided comprehensive mobile testing at 13 of its facilities with more than 5,700 inmate tests completed. Testing is scheduled for the remaining 3 facilities. Individual testing is also available, as needed at all facilities, according to the state’s department of corrections. 

As of May 21, 5,734 Massachusetts inmates were tested and 375 were positive with COVID-19. That is roughly 6.5% of the inmates.

MCI-Shirley has the most cases with 154 inmates with the virus.

[broadstreet zone=”70106″]

As of May 21, 114 Corrections staffers have been tested, with 33 currently positive.

At MCI-Framingham, there are now 2 staffers positive for the virus, down from a high of 14.

The Department of Corrections last month hosted mobile testing at MCI-Framingham and South Middlesex Correctional Center, where COVID-19 testing was provided to all inmates and staff. These two sites are on the same complex and house female inmates.

On Mother’s Day, more than 50-vehicles participated in a protest outside the female prison.

[broadstreet zone=”58610″]

Organized by Families for Justice as Healing, the protest was to make public the inhuman conditions of confining these women inside the correction s institute during the pandemic.

On Friday evening, April 3, the Massachusetts Department of Correction began to restrict movement within all facilities to allow greater social distancing within all facilities.

Corrections staff at all facilities have been instructed to utilize personal protective equipment if they will be within 6 feet of another individual or in an area with inmates who have tested positive for the virus, said a spokesperson.

Inmates will receive meals and medication in their units and have opportunities to shower, clean their rooms, and use the telephone. Laundry, mail, and other required services will not be interrupted, said a press release from the department.

[broadstreet zone=”59946″]

By editor

Susan Petroni is the former editor for SOURCE. She is the founder of the former news site, which as of May 1, 2023, is now a self-publishing community bulletin board. The website no longer has a journalist but a webmaster.