New coronavirus cluster identified at Kansas correctional facility in Wichita

A new cluster of coronavirus cases has been identified in Sedgwick County, this time at a correctional facility.

The Sedgwick County Health Department’s daily COVID-19 report listed 10 clusters on Wednesday, up one from previous reports. County officials said the new cluster is related to the Wichita Work Release Facility, 401 S. Emporia.

Sedgwick County’s number of coronavirus cases jumped by 36 on Wednesday, which tied the record for the most in one day. County officials attributed the increase to the outbreak at the work release facility.

A Kansas Department of Corrections report Wednesday afternoon listed one staff member and four residents of the Wichita Work Release Facility as positive for the disease. Three of the residents have recovered. In an updated report Wednesday evening, KDOC reported 38 residents have tested positive.

The KDOC describes the facility as “a satellite unit of the Winfield Correctional Facility, is an all-male, minimum-custody state prison with a population of 248 prior to the pandemic and a new temporary population of 175.”

This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 4:42 PM.