HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Blair County Prison is continuing to host COVID-19 vaccination clinics for inmates and county employees after reinstating a requirement for staff and visitors to wear face masks in light of rising local caseloads.

Seventeen inmates — all with state sentences and awaiting transfer to a state facility — signed up for the most recent clinic at the county prison.

One of the attractions might be a belief among inmates that once they’re transferred to a state facility, there’s more privileges for the vaccinated inmates, Deputy Warden James Eckard told the county prison board during a Thursday meeting.

In early August, the state Department of Corrections announced that it would halt in-person visits at its prisons for the inmates who are not vaccinated against COVID-19. The state also said it would begin making housing changes so unvaccinated inmates are housed together.

The state’s efforts were initiated in light of statewide increases in COVID-19 cases. It’s estimated that about one in five of the nearly 8,000 state prison inmates are unvaccinated.

In response to local increases in COVID-19 cases, county prison Warden Abbie Tate told the board that the prison began Monday to again require staff and visitors to wear face masks.

Eckard said inmates aren’t required to wear face masks inside their cells, but they must wear them while being escorted inside the prison. Eckard also said the prison is still quarantining new inmates for 48 hours, to see if they show any COVID-19 symptoms before being housed with others.

Tate said the return to use of face masks was reviewed with PrimeCare, the prison’s medical care contractor, county Human Resources Director Katherine Swigart and President Judge Elizabeth Doyle.

Prison Board Chairman A.C. Stickel added his endorsement.

“You’re different than anyone else,” Stickel said in reference to the prison. “If an inmate gets sick, you can’t send them home to quarantine.”

As for when the county’s state-sentenced inmates will be transferred to a state facility, Tate said those arrangements rest with the state.

“We were sending nine to 10 at a time, but now it seems it’s five to six,” Tate said.

Based on the August population report, the county prison has 38 inmates — 29 men and nine women — who have received state sentences and are awaiting transfer.

The county facility, as of Aug. 19, was housing 272 inmates.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.