NC shuts down Smithfield prison to shift staff to Goldsboro facility with major coronavirus outbreak

"The staff at Neuse have been working in the toughest conditions, for weeks on end, and desperately needed support, Commissioner of Prisons Todd Ishee said in a statement. "They are owed everyone’s thanks for their commitment to serving the public, standing tall in their daily responsibilities and helping ensure safety of their co-workers and those in custody."

Wayne County health officials reported 458 virus cases at Neuse Correctional on Monday, while a news release from the state Department of Public Safety said 13 staffers and more than 330 inmates were infected.

Officials tested all 700 inmates and offered tests to all staff members last week after the number of infections kept growing. DPS officials said they are still waiting on the results of about 200 tests.

To bring Neuse Correctional staff some help and to keep security at appropriate levels there, the Prisons’ Incident Command team took the following actions over the weeked:

All transported inmates were medically screened, including temperature checks, before they were moved and when they arrived at their destinations. On their arrival, they were all placed under 14-day medical quarantine and did not mix with prisoners already housed there.

"No offenders from Neuse or any of those exhibiting any symptoms were transferred," Ishee said.

The transportation vehicles were disinfected before and after each trip, and inmates and staff were all outfitted with face masks.

The Johnston Correctional staff should start arriving at Neuse Correctional over the next few days, and everyone working at the prison will receive supplemental pay, officials said.

There were six confirmed cases of coronavirus at Johnston Correctional: three inmates and three staff members.

The spouse of a correctional officer there said she worries about him being reassigned.

"I'm extremely concerned," said the woman, who did not wish to be identified. "We've done everything we've supposed to do on our end to keep those kids safe, and now, we're potentially exposing them by bringing him back home. I've gone so far to say I'd rather him not be at home."

A truckload of personal protective equipment was delivered to Neuse Correctional on Saturday, and five portable, large-scale disinfectant-dispersal units called Power Breezers were used to clean the facility from top to bottom.

Extra soap and disinfecting supplies have been supplied to all state prisons, and Correction Enterprises has produced about 79,000 washable cloth face masks and distributed to staff and offenders in all 52 facilities.

The Division of Prison also has extended its moratorium on accepting new inmates from county jails through May 3 and has extended the suspension of visitation, offender outside work assignments and offender home leaves until May 16.