HUNTINGDON — A state prison in Huntingdon tops the list of Pennsylvania state prisons for COVID-19-positive inmates.

The State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon has 110 inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the latest numbers published Friday by the state Department of Corrections. Nine inmates have recovered

The prison is second in the number of employees who have tested positive at 36, with SCI Phoenix in Montgomery County reporting 57 employees who test positive.

“SCI Huntingdon opened in 1889, and its design of multiple tiers of cells in each block, open-bar style cell doors and ventilation issues is challenging our management of the virus,” DOC Press Secretary Maria Finn noted in an email on Thursday. “All inmates are treated as potential ‘sources,’ people who are infected even if they are unaware of it.”

Overall, there are 145 positive cases among inmates statewide, with 303 negative tests. There have been three deaths, all at SCI Phoenix. The DOC reports 30 inmates have recovered. There have been 131 corrections employees statewide testing positive.

As of Thursday, the Huntingdon prison held 1,968 inmates. Overall, the prison’s population has been reduced by 13 in the past seven days and is down 14 inmates since last month.

According to Finn, all inmates are required to wear face masks when they are out of their cells and their movement has been “severely curtailed.”

Any inmates showing symptoms are isolated, and inmates they’ve come into contact with are quarantined separately.

Two inmates are currently hospitalized, Finn said.

Finn pointed out that the prison’s gym has been converted into an infirmary for COVID-19-positive inmates where oxygen and IV therapy is available, if needed.

“Inmates are tested either because of symptoms, fever or because they appear ill in some other way,” Finn stated, adding that any inmate who shows symptoms or signs of the virus will be tested. “While testing is underway, that inmate is placed in isolation and their housing unit is placed under enhanced quarantine awaiting test results.”

All housing units under enhanced quarantine require twice a day symptom screening, which includes a temperature check, Finn added.

At SCI Huntingdon, 32 employees have tested positive with 26 testing negative. There have been no deaths reported among staff, as of Wednesday night.

“We know that COVID-19 enters the inmate population from the community, which is why we have curtailed visitation and implemented screening and ‘source control’ for all staff and inmates,” Finn said.

All employees, as well as vendors, medical personnel and other contractors, are screened and have to wear a mask. Anyone who fails the screening isn’t allowed inside the prison, and they are referred to their doctor, Finn said.

“Last week, we have implemented a voluntary testing option on-site for any employee who has failed the screening — or they can follow-up with their primary care physician,” she said.

The DOC also has implemented contact tracing, although Finn said COVID-19 testing is self-reported by staff. They are asked questions durings screenings to try to determine if they have been in contact with anyone suspected of having COVID-19 but due to privacy concerns, there is a limit as to what prison officials can ask staff.

“However, affected staff members are interviewed and internal jail surveillance camera recordings are studied to identify contacts,” Finn said. “Employees may not return to work without a doctor’s note proving they are fit to return.”

Inmates scheduled for release will continue to be released, although they will be tested and only released if the test is negative, Finn said. If positive, the inmate will remain incarcerated, receive treatment and only be released during recovery.

The only exception is inmates who have maxed out their sentence because the DOC can not legally hold someone in custody beyond their maximum sentence. Those inmates will be asked to see a doctor on the outside if they have flu-like symptoms.

Mirror Staff Writer Greg Bock is at 946-7458.