State prisons implement new COVID-19 mitigation measures

North Carolina's state prisons are putting new mitigation measures in place to prevent the spread of the omicron variant. 

Right now, over 1,000 prisoners have an active COVID-19 infection, and one is hospitalized.

Work release programs have been suspended at all prisons experiencing outbreaks of the virus. Only contact-free visits with family members or friends are allowed, and all inmates are now required to be tested before transferring to another facility. 

Dr. Arthur Campbell, the chief medical officer for the prison system, says they currently have enough supplies on hand to continue regularly testing inmates. But that could change.

“We're quite frankly anticipating a shortage down the road, especially with the tests that are being mailed out across the country. There's only a few manufacturers of those antigen tests," says Campbell. "So we do anticipate that but currently we're still in good shape.”

Campbell also says the prison system is focused on providing booster shots to inmates who are eligible. Right now he says around 65% have received boosters. About 20% remain completely unvaccinated.