More than 900 cases of COVID-19 have been reported at two state prisons in Ocala.
The vast majority – 894 – have been identified at Lowell Correctional Institution, located at 11120 N.W. Gainesville Rd. in Ocala. Of those, 851 are inmates in the women’s prison and 43 are employees, according to a report released Tuesday by the Florida Department of Corrections.
A total of 848 inmates have tested negative at Lowell, with 648 awaiting test results. One inmate is in medical isolation, 1,534 are in medical quarantine and 11 are being held in security quarantine.
Twelve cases also have been identified at the Marion Correctional Institution, located at 3269 NW 105th St. in Ocala. Those case are divided among six inmates and six staff members. Six inmates have tested negative, while 445 are awaiting tests, five are in medical isolation, 374 are in medical quarantine and four are being held in security quarantine.
Inmates at state prisons are placed in medical isolation when they are suspected or presenting symptoms of an infectious illness. They are placed in medical quarantine when they may have had close contact with someone who has tested positive or is showing symptoms of an illness. And those in security quarantine are separated because they recently transferred into a correctional facility, according to FDOC.