The Erie County Sheriff's Office said 27 inmates within a specific housing area at its Alden Correctional Facility have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Sheriff has enacted COVID-related protocols, as officials monitor the inmates' health and progress. It has also implemented its infectious disease plan to stop any spread to other housing areas within the facility.
Hand sanitizer and facial masks have been provided, and employees and inmates are required to wear masks at all times in the facility.
These are the first confirmed cases of COVID within the Erie County jail or correctional facility in eight months.
New York State posts an online report of cases by facility on the Department of Corrections website. As of Nov. 24, it reported 1737 inmate, 1705 and 125 parolee cases. Of those, 18 inmate, 5 staff and 4 parolees have died of COVID.
WBFO's Marian Hetherly contributed to this story.
