A staffer at the federal prison in McDowell County has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Data on the federal Bureau of Prisons website this week said the employee works at FCI McDowell, a medium security facility in southern West Virginia with around 1,100 inmates. The case marks another federal prison in the state with reported coronavirus cases.
At least five inmates have tested positive at FCI Gilmer in Glenville after the Bureau of Prisons transferred 124 inmates to the lockup in a bid to ease overcrowding at the agency’s other prisons.
Federal and state politicians opposed the transfers when they were announced and then renewed their criticism after the first positive case emerged at Gilmer. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin has said Attorney General William Barr has assured him that no additional inmates will be relocated to Gilmer or the federal prison at Hazelton.