Message from Director Anne Precythe: Office Staff Member Tests Positive for COVID-19

March 30, 2020

Good afternoon, MODOC team:

The Missouri Department of Corrections has received notification that a team member who works in a Jefferson City office has tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member has been working remotely in recent weeks and last entered the office on March 17. The staff member is continuing to self-quarantine at home.

This notification marks the second case of COVID-19 reported among MODOC staff in the state. The previous case, reported March 27, occurred in Northwest Missouri. No other Missouri Department of Corrections staff have tested positive for COVID-19. No COVID-19 cases have been reported among prison staff. 

Please be advised that all protocols have been followed to minimize exposure. All staff who have been in contact with the infected staff member have been notified. All other people with whom the staff member was in close proximity also have been notified. If you have not received notification that you are suspected of having had contact with this staff member, that means you are not considered to be at risk. At this time, there are no other positive COVID-19 test results among staff or clients in the region.

We are working closely with the Department of Health and Senior Services, local law enforcement and local public health professionals to complete a thorough epidemiological investigation. The office is closed for cleaning. While Division of Probation and Parole offices remain open and minimally staffed with essential employees, officers are continuing to supervise clients by way of community visits, phone contact, video visits and electronic monitoring.

I would like to remind you that it is vitally important during this time to be aware that misinformation can cause unnecessary alarm and potential harm. Reporting test results of our team members is a delicate balance. Please respect the privacy of our staff member who has tested positive for this virus and extend that respect in all of your communications, including social media. If another staff member tests positive for COVID-19, we will share the results with people in the affected locations first, followed by a message to all staff.

We will continue to closely monitor the spread of COVID-19 and make additional operational and preventative decisions as the situation evolves. Throughout the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, MODOC will post public updates on our website at https://doc.mo.gov/media-center/newsroom/covid-19.

Please keep our P&P team member in your thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery and a healthy, positive outcome.

Thank you for being a part of a team that does incredibly important work for the State of Missouri. We are in this together to help keep the citizens of Missouri safe. They are counting on us! Thank you for all you do. Stay strong. Stay safe. Stay healthy.

Anne L. Precythe
Director