The Director of Corrections reports that, as of January 18^th, there are 60 cases of COVID-19 among inmates at Northampton County Prison (NCP). Since the start of the pandemic, 397 inmates have tested positive; 337 have finished their quarantine periods or are no longer at NCP. Twenty Department of Correction’s employees are currently in quarantine after testing positive for the virus.

Due to the influx of positive COVID-19 inmates being transferred from other jurisdictions, NCP Administration has decided to suspend all inmate transfers into and out of the facility. The suspension will go into effect on January 18, 2022 and will last through February 17, 2022. NCP will no longer accept individuals on only a State Parole Detainer. They must have Northampton County charges and/or a Northampton County commitment. State runs will be permitted for transfer with a negative COVID-19 test. If someone is received on an out-of-county bench warrant with no local charges, the other county will be contacted and the individual will be temporarily held for a reasonable amount of time in the Booking Center until picked up by the other jurisdiction.

“We continue to see the effects of the Omicron surge in the Northampton County Jail,” says Lamont McClure. “The number of infections in NCP is unacceptably high and we need more Corrections Officers to get vaccinated.”

Since March 2020, NCP has conducted 6,813 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 29 vaccination clinics this year and vaccinated 524 inmates. The clinics also offer booster shots. Currently, 306 inmates in the facility are fully vaccinated and 55 inmates have received boosters. 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 641 inmates in residence at NCP.

Virus mitigation measures for employees at NCP include KN95 and surgical masks, daily temperature checks, hand sanitizer stations, increased cleaning/disinfection protocols, COVID- 19 tests available on demand, ionizer and electrostatic sprayers throughout the facility, social distancing and frequent hand washing.

A COVID-19 drive-through vaccination clinic and testing site is open at 3100 Emrick Blvd. Bethlehem Township, 18020. Hours of operation for testing have been expanded this week (Jan 18-21) to Wednesday/Friday from 9:00AM – 3:00PM and Tuesday/Thursday from 12:00PM – 6:00PM. The drive-through testing center is located in the parking area to the rear of the Coordinated Health Building and is separate from patient parking and routine patient care.

A Physician’s order is not required to be tested. The drive-through site is open to everyone, but only residents of Northampton County will receive a free test if they do not have health coverage. All testing will be through HNL Lab Medicine unless insurance requires an alternate laboratory. Participants should bring a photo ID and their insurance card, if they have one, with them to the testing site.

To make an appointment for a vaccine at the COVID-19 drive-thru testing site use one of the following options:

1. Schedule at the LVHN website at LVHN.org/appointment.
2. Schedule on the MyLVHN patient portal, at MyLVHN.org
3. Call 833-584-6283

Information provided to TVL by:
Becky Bartlett
Deputy Director of Administration
Northampton County Government Center
669 Washington Street
Easton, PA 18042
https://www.northamptoncounty.org/

 

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