The chairman of the Arkansas Department of Correction’s board, Benny Magness of Gassville, tells KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot news the North Central Unit of the state’s prison system is clear of the coronavirus.
Magness’ comment comes after some news outlets reported the first positive COVID-19 case at the unit, located at Calico Rock.
Magness says a symptomatic inmate was tested. However, the test results were a false positive. A false positive test incorrectly indicates a particular condition or attribute is present.
Magness says all inmates in the barracks with the symptomatic prisoner were also tested. Prison officials are awaiting those test results.
While the North Central unit remains clear of the virus at this time, Magness says the first case has developed at the East Arkansas Regional Unit near West Memphis. Inmates have previously tested positive for the virus at the Cummins Unit at Grady, the Randall L. Williams Unit at Pine Bluff and the Federal Correctional Institution at Forrest City.
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