The warden at the Halawa Correctional Facility has implemented facility-wide isolation and quarantine protocols after three inmates and 10 staff tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Hawaii Department of Public Safety.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the warden made the call to immediately implement isolation and quarantine procedures to mitigate spread across the facility, to other facilities and the community. I support his proactive decision,” said Tommy Johnson, the public safety department’s deputy director of corrections, in a news release today. “The warden and his staff are working very hard to safeguard everyone and prevent the virus from spreading into a full-blown outbreak.”

The protocols include suspension of all inmate movement within the facility as well as transfers to and from the facility for 14 days.

The three inmates who tested positive for the novel coronavirus are in medical isolation and the 10 staff members are in self-quarantine.

Testing is also underway for inmates and staff. There is a total of 936 inmates at the correctional facility and 332 staff members.

The Hawaii Department of Health is conducting contact tracing.