A female inmate at Perryville prison in the west Valley has tested positive for coronavirus.
The news was brought to ABC15’s attention by Carlos Garcia, executive director for the Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association.
A Perryville kitchen officer tested positive for COVID-19 last week. Prison officials told staff there was no further risk and that the case was investigated.
ABC15 Investigator Dave Biscobing says the department had not tested any women at the prison until that point.
PERRYVILLE PRISON POSITIVE: Union director Carlos Garcia tells @abc15 female inmate has confirmed COVID-19 case.
— Dave Biscobing (@DaveBiscobing15) April 27, 2020
We confirmed kitchen officer there tested positive last week. Prison officials told staff they investigated and there was no further risk. I guess that wasn’t true.
Garcia said he has confirmed that more than 30 officers have tested positive for COVID-19 in seven different complexes.
The state refuses to provide the general number and prison locations of officers who have tested positive.
