NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

COUNTY PRISON: The Director of Corrections reports that, as of Oct. 11, there are 24 cases of COVID-19 among inmates at Northampton County Prison (NCP). Since the start of the pandemic, 276 inmates have tested positive; 252 have finished their quarantine periods or are no longer at NCP. Currently, three Department of Corrections staff and two vendor employees are in quarantine after testing positive for the virus.

Since March 2020, NCP has conducted 4,911 tests for COVID-19 on inmates. All new inmates are tested when they come into the facility and must show a negative result before they are transferred to General Population; residents are tested on a random basis. PrimeCare Medical does daily temperature checks, movement of inmates is restricted within the facility and meals are served in the housing unit. In-person visitation is prohibited and no volunteers are permitted in the facility. Cloth masks are provided and inmates must wear them whenever they leave their cell. Any inmate participating in work release or work programs within NCP must be vaccinated.

NCP has held 19 vaccination clinics this year and vaccinated 388 inmates. Currently, 282 inmates in the facility are fully vaccinated. Shots for inmates and staff are administered by PrimeCare Medical. The vaccinations are not compulsory and are only provided to those who request them.

There are currently 626 inmates in residence at NCP.

CORONER’S REPORT: Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 3, the Northampton County Coroner recorded 200 COVID-19 related deaths in Northampton County (165 residents/35 non-residents). The last COVID-19 related death was recorded Oct. 3. As of May 3, the Lehigh County Coroner reported 66 deaths of Northampton County residents. Between the two counties, 231 deaths of Northampton County residents from COVID-19 have been reported this year.

In 2020, the Northampton County Coroner reported 403 COVID-19 related deaths (359 residents and 44 non-residents). The Lehigh County Coroner reported 118 deaths for a total of 477 COVID-19-related deaths for Northampton County residents in 2020.