Local prison food contractor tests positive for coronavirus

Yuma company discusses how it's dealing with the test result

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Trinity Services Group (TSG), a food contractor for Arizona State Prison Complex in Yuma, confirms one of its employees, who works in the prison tested positive for COVID-19.

TSG said it has a robust policy to keep their employees safe. When someone tests positive, they are sent home immediately and kept away from the prison complex.

TSG could not confirm with whom the team member was in contact with. However, managers say, from their understanding, the virus was caught early on. The food services company also confirms its team members work along side inmates.

TSG management tells us, when one of their employees tests positive for the coronavirus, they deep-clean the company's kitchen. They say TSG has guidelines and procedures to ensure their staff is safe. That includes:

• Masks
• Specific training
• Reminders to wash hands and practice social distancing
• Routine deep cleanings of the work space

News 11 reached out to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry, but it did not confirm or deny the female contractor had tested positive for the virus. It did send us the following:

"All employees entering Arizona prison complexes continue to undergo required health checks at each facility. Employees are sent home immediately if they are experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms and are required to stay home if they are sick. Following guidelines consistent with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and the CDC, ADCRR continues to implement its existing Communicable Disease and Infection Control protocols, and communicate with staff and inmates about how they can reduce the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19, including washing hands, sanitizing surfaces, covering coughs and sneezes, and require anyone entering a prison to wear face coverings."

ADCRR Statement

The ADCRR website shows 34 inmates within the Yuma Prison Complex have been tested positive for the coronavirus as of May 11.

The site also shows, so far, 60 state prison employees have self-reported positive for the virus. 35 have recovered.