Press Release

RICHMOND — The Virginia Department of Corrections late today received its first positive COVID-19 test results for incarcerated offenders. Three offenders at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women in Goochland, Virginia tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Three VADOC employees and one contractor have also tested positive for COVID-19. The employees include one officer in training at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women (VCCW); one correctional officer at Indian Creek Correctional Center; and one employee at the Norfolk Probation and Parole office. The contractor is a contract nurse at VCCW.

All VADOC facilities are operating on modified lockdown in order to minimize contact between groups of offenders from different buildings, and Virginia Correctional Enterprises is manufacturing tens of thousands of sneeze/cough guard masks for use by Virginia DOC staff and offenders.

While visitation and volunteer activities at correctional facilities are cancelled due to the pandemic, video visitation, email, and phone calls are available to offenders. The Virginia DOC’s extensive Medical Epidemic/Pandemic Sanitation Plan is in place to make certain that all VADOC facilities ensure accurate sanitation while utilizing appropriate chemicals and approved personal protective equipment. 

The VADOC is working closely with the Virginia Department of Health and continues to plan for every possible contingency. The latest updates on COVID-19 in the state correctional facilities can be found at https://www.vadoc.virginia.gov/news-press-releases/2020/covid-19-updates/.