LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced Wednesday night all staff for the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) must be tested for COVID-19, effective immediately.
The testing applies to anyone working "within the physical boundaries of the prison or comes into contact with prisoners while on the job". Anyone exhibiting symptoms or who has come in close contact with a person with COVID-19 must isolate themselves and meet the CDC-recommended criteria for returning to work.
New-hires must be tested at least 72 hours before their start date. If anyone test positive for the virus, all staff working within the last 14 days will be tested weekly until no positive cases are found among staff and prisoners within a 14-day period.
MDHHS says anyone refusing the test will not be able to return to work. Staff who already tested positive for the virus will not need to be retested for 90 days.