The Director of Corrections reports that, as of April 20th there are no cases of COVID-19 among inmates and employees at Northampton County Prison (NCP). The Work Release and Linking to Employment Activities Pre-release (LEAP) programs have restarted.

Since the start of the pandemic, 434 inmates have tested positive; 434 have finished their quarantine periods or are no longer at NCP.

“Administrators and employees have done a great job of reducing the number of cases at NCP to zero since the end of the Omicron surge,” says Lamont McClure. “However, another wave of infections from a new variant is possible so I encourage everyone who is eligible to get
vaccinated and boosted.”

Since March 2020, NCP has conducted 8,219 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 36 vaccination clinics and vaccinated 629 inmates. The clinic also offers booster shots. Currently, 276 inmates in the facility are fully vaccinated and 78 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 594 inmates in residence at NCP. One inmate is out on extended furlough.

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 are Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 10:00AM
– 2:00PM and Tuesday/Thursday from 2:00PM – 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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