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Correctional, mental health facilities at ‘high risk’ of COVID-19

Observer-Dispatch - 6/19/2020

In April, the New York State Corrections Officers and Police Benevolent Association said nine patients and nine staff members at the Central New York Psychiatric Center tested positive for coronavirus.

Since then, cases at both state correctional and mental health facilities make up about 13 percent of COVID-19 cases in Oneida County.

The facility offers treatment to state and county inmates. Outside of New York City, it is the only state facility where inmates may be involuntarily hospitalized under state law.

The state Office of Mental Health (OMH) employs 13,219 people and houses 3,446 patients throughout the 23 state facilities. Officials last week confirmed 310 inpatients had coronavirus, as well as 616 employees. The office does not specify the number of cases per facility if it is under a certain number, citing privacy concerns, but it can be estimated how many cases have originated from the facility.

According to county data as of Thursday, there were around 1,290 coronavirus cases in Oneida County with about 13 percent from state facilities, or about 168 cases. Subtracting the number of staff and inmates infected at state prisons, as reported by union and state officials, the numbers show about 8 percent of countywide cases originated from the Central New York Psychiatric Facility.

"It wouldn't surprise me," said Harvey Rosenthal, chief executive officer of the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, of the possible number of cases.

While mental illness does not lead to a vulnerability to COVID-19, studies have shown a high comorbidity between mental illnesses and diabetes, heart problems or lung issues, Rosenthal said.

OMH also noted in a March 14 memo that their adult population has a number of heart and lung conditions, and over half have a history of heavy tobacco use.

"This population should be considered high risk for severe COVID-19 illness," the memo said.

Rosenthal said risk at any facility -- psychiatric centers, nursing homes or otherwise -- would also depend on how staff initially responded to the virus.

This spring, OMH suspended visitations at adult facilities, advising patients who show symptoms to wear a mask and staying isolated, and advising staff who are sick were advised to stay home.

"How quickly did they respond ... it's a fair question of any institution," Rosenthal said.

Contact reporter H. Rose Schneider at 315-792-5013 or follow her on Twitter (@OD_Schneider).

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