COVID-19 outbreak at Larch climbs to 280

Jan. 15—The Washington State Department of Corrections reported Thursday that 280 inmates at Larch Corrections Center have tested positive for COVID-19 to date. All of the cases have occurred in the last 30 days.

The number of positive cases was up eight from Tuesday.

On Dec. 31, the department reported that Larch had six incarcerated individuals who tested positive for the novel coronavirus. That number jumped to 218 inmates on Jan. 4 following mass testing at the prison the week prior, and it has been increasing since.

The minimum-security state prison near Yacolt has a capacity of 480 inmates. However, there are currently about 300 housed there, according to DOC. More than 90 percent of the inmate population has contracted the virus.

A total of 24 staff members at Larch have also tested positive for the virus to date.

There have been no COVID-19-related deaths at Larch, according to DOC's data.

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