The first batch of COVID-19 mass testing of Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) offenders is in. Of the
first tests, 1446 are negative and 189 positive which is a rate of 11 percent. Those results come from 13 units
across the state.
In all the Strike Team oral swab testing of offenders and employees of TDCJ is moving very quickly. In the first 7
days of testing the 12 teams have collected 34,033 offender tests and 7,863 employee tests.
Collection of tests is complete at the Ellis, Fort Stockton, LeBlanc, Lopez, Michael, Middleton, Murray, Pack,
Telford, Terrell, Sanchez, Segovia, Stiles, Woodman, and Wynne units.
Testing continues or is underway at the Clements, Darrington, Eastham, Estelle, Garza East, Gist, Gurney,
Hutchins, Holliday, Hughes, Huntsville, Jester III, Lynaugh, Lychner, Ney, and Robertson units.
In total there have been 38,203 offenders and 11,836 employees tested. 2214 offenders and 742 staff have tested positive with 457 offenders and 145 staff recovered. There have been 32 offender deaths connected to COVID 19 with an additional 27 under investigation. There have been 7 employee line of duty deaths from COVID-19.
In total Walker County has 123 TDCJ employees who are positive with COVID-19 65 in Wayne Unit, Ellis 19, 1 in Walls Unit among others.
According to the latest release and due to reasons such as HIPPA, Walker County personnel are not performing this task, however, COVID-19 positive individuals can register at https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/tracing.aspx. The Department of State Health Services has staff in place to follow up with those testing positive.
