Pontiac Correctional Center has first staffer test positive for COVID-19; also 1 more staffer at Sheridan

Pontiac Correctional Center is reporting its first staff member has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The Livingston County maximum-security prison, which has 1,165 residents, has had one inmate test positive for COVID-19, but no staff members until Wednesday.

Additionally, a fifth Sheridan Correctional Center staff member has been diagnosed with COVID-19, bringing the total cases to 15 related to the prison.

The Sheridan ZIP code of 60551 is the only ZIP code in La Salle County reporting more than five confirmed cases, with 10 confirmed cases being inmates. Inmates are considered residents. Pontiac, in Livingston County, has nine confirmed cases within its ZIP code of 61764.

The staff members are counted as cases where they reside, so they would only count in the ZIP code total for their community or county of residence.

Sheridan has the second-most confirmed cases of the coronavirus among inmates in Illinois’ prison system, after Stateville, which has 123 inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Both Sheridan and Pontiac correctional facilities are placed on lockdown.

During a lockdown, no visitors are allowed. There is no movement around the facility except for medical care. Staff who work with individuals in isolation and quarantine, as well as in health care units, are wearing full personal protective equipment, and all staff are wearing PPE.