GLENVILLE, W.Va. — The federal Bureau of Prisons has confirmed the inmate at the federal prison in Gilmer County that has tested positive for COVID-19 is one of the 124 inmates transferred to the prison last week.
BOP spokesperson Sue Allison said the inmate had been screened several times before coming to Gilmer.
“They were screened and temperature checked by USMS (U.S. Marshal Service) prior to boarding their flight. They were also screened by a Bureau of Prisons physician when their plane landed, and again upon arrival at FCI Gilmer. None of the inmates were symptomatic when they arrived at FCI Gilmer. All of the inmates were placed into quarantine upon arrival,” Allison said.
The inmate, who arrived last Tuesday, April 28, began to show symptoms when he was checked last Friday.
According to Allison, the inmate ‘was found to have a fever and displayed other symptoms including cough, body aches and loss of appetite. He was sent to the local hospital on May 1st, 2020, where he tested positive for COVID-19. He was returned to FCI Gilmer on May 2nd, 2020, and placed in isolation, per CDC guidelines.”
Unionized prison workers and several elected officials have called on the BOP to stop the transfer of prisoners. FCI Gilmer and FCI Hazelton are two of 10 federal prisoners in the U.S. begin used as quarantine sites for new prisoners before they are put into the general population.