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

April 8, 2020

Good afternoon, MODOC team:

The Missouri Department of Corrections has received notification that a Jefferson City non-prison Missouri Vocational Enterprises staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. He is currently in quarantine. The staff member last entered a Department of Corrections building on March 30. He tested positive April 7. He did not work inside a prison. 

Please be advised that all protocols have been followed to minimize exposure. Everyone who has been in close contact with the infected staff member has been notified. If you have not received notification that you are suspected of having had close contact with this staff member, that means you are not considered to be at risk.

This notification marks the sixth case of COVID-19 reported among MODOC staff in the state. The previous cases, reported March 27, March 30, April 2 and April 3, occurred in Northwest Missouri, Jefferson City, St. Louis and Kansas City. Only one of these staff members was employed at a prison and had been out of the facility on unrelated leave without staff or offender contact for 21 days before testing positive, well beyond the 14-day incubation period. At this time, there are no other positive COVID-19 test results among any other MVE staff or offenders. 

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 members who have 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 team members in your thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery and a healthy, positive outcome.

Thank you for all you do. Stay strong. Stay safe. Stay healthy.

Anne L. Precythe
Director