More than 1,300 at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center test positive for COVID-19

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — More than 1,300 individuals at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center have tested positive for COVID-19. In response, Gov. Bill Lee’s Unified Command Group has announced that a mass testing initiative will begin next week for all staff and inmates.

The Tennessee Department of Correction confirmed the positive cases on Friday. Out of the 2,450 total tests, more than 1,300 staff and inmates tested positive.

According to the state, analysis of the test results confirmed that 98% of those who tested positive are asymptomatic.

CoreCivic gave a break down of the testing results as follows:

Inmate testing

• Total tested: 2,444
• Total negative results: 1,145
• Total positive results: 1,299
• Pending tests: 13

Staff testing

• Total tested: 281
• Total negative results: 192
• Total positive results: 50
• Pending tests: 39

The testing took place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Prior to this week, CoreCivic said there were 12 staff members who had confirmed cases of COVID-19.

"We have worked closely together with TDOC and state health officials to respond to this unprecedented situation appropriately, thoroughly and with care for the well-being of those entrusted to us and our communities," CoreCivic's Chief Medical Officer Keith Ivens, M.D. said in the statement. In addition, CoreCivic says the rate of infection at Trousdale Turner is consistent with or below what is being reported by other correctional systems nationally.

The governor’s office says TDOC is now working with its health care services provider and contract prison provider, Centurion Managed Care and CoreCivic, to begin COVID-19 testing next week of all staff and inmates at 10 other TDOC facilities in the state.

Testing was also conducted at other locations, including the Bledsoe facility, where there were 583 positive cases. Additionally, there were 40 positive cases at Northwest and 40 positive cases at Turney Center. The majority of those positive tests were also asymptomatic.

The state says TDOC has given more than 93,000 masks to its staff, inmates, county jails, and health care workers.

All inmates who test positive and are asymptomatic receive daily medical monitoring and health assessments. Inmates who are asymptomatic will be monitored at their facilities while medical teams check daily for symptoms.

CoreCivc has launched a 24-hour COVID-19 information hotline for family members of inmates. It will be open every day at 615-263-3200 and will be monitored by a live operator.