Page updated 05/20/2021
Visit coronavirus.utah.gov for statewide information.
See updates below in the "Latest Update" section for more information regarding outbreaks at the Utah State Prison in Draper and the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison.
Please contact our hotline at 801-545-5505.
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UTAH RESPONSE:
The Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) is working collaboratively with state partners — including the Lieutenant Governor’s task force — to address Coronavirus in Utah.
The safety of incarcerated individuals or those on supervision, along with our staff, volunteers and others who interact directly with our Department, is paramount.
As Coronavirus cases in Utah continue to increase, please know that we have outbreak strategies in place, which include prompt medical care and testing, and quarantining or isolating staff or incarcerated individuals. These updates will be shared via this webpage and social media.
For more information on the virus, and for state-related updates, please visit the website:
https://coronavirus.utah.gov/.
Learn more extensively about the many steps UDC has taken to ensure the safety and health of incarcerated individuals and those on supervision with the Department here: https://le.utah.gov/interim/2020/pdf/00002842.pdf
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THE NUMBERS:
Total Confirmed Offender Cases to Date by Location
*State and county jail incarcerated individuals are tracked together and totals would need to be requested from each county jail.
**At this time, the University of Utah Hospital requires that any inmate being transported to a hospital for any kind of care to be tested for COVID-19.
**Starting May 20, 2020, prison intakes will be limited to Wednesdays. These will include intakes from all county jails and from Adult Probation & Parole. In direct consultation with local health officials, it was decided that these individuals will be in a cohort together for two weeks, and will each be tested for COVID-19 within 24-48 hours of arrival. Those who decline to be tested will be placed in a designated, separate area for two weeks. Please note that this increase in testing each week will reflect a spike in the overall number of inmates tested at the Utah State Prison in Draper and possibly a marginal increase at the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison.
Updated 05/20/2021 (COVID-19 case counts will be updated at least once per week).
Total Confirmed Staff Cases: 402
Total Recovered Staff Cases: 396
Updated 04/21/2021
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LATEST UPDATE:
04/30/2021
Utah Corrections to Resume In-Person Visits and Volunteer Services in June
Utah Corrections to Resume In-Person Visits and Volunteer Services in June After more than a year, UDC will resume in-person visits and volunteer services in early June Starting in early June, in-person visiting, and volunteer and religious services, will resume at the Utah State Prison (USP) in Draper and the Central Utah Correctional Facility (CUCF) in Gunnison.
“Our incarcerated population have not seen their family in-person for more than a year,” said Brian Nielson, executive director for the Utah Department of Corrections. “Throughout this pandemic the incarcerated have shown great fortitude in adhering to COVID-19 guidelines in order to help slow the spread of the virus.”
Visits and services will roll out in a phased approach in order to adhere closely to COVID-19 protocols, including social distancing, face coverings, temperature checks and screening questions.
“We appreciate state and local health officials for their continued support and guidance on navigating the pandemic,” Nielson said. “And finally, I would be remiss if I did not thank our incredible staff who have worked diligently to make this happen, and have been nimble since the outset of the pandemic to adapt to ongoing changes.”
In March 2020, all in-person visiting was suspended and supplemented with 10 free 15-minute phone calls per week.
The Department plans to continue providing video visits when in-person visiting resumes.
For those planning in-person visits, visitor applications must be approved. Find more information here: https://corrections.utah.gov/index.php/family-friends/how-to
Volunteers can communicate with the Department’s programming division by emailing udc_vrs@utah.gov.
04/29/2021
Utah Department of Corrections Reaches COVID-19 Vaccine Milestone
Utah Department of Corrections Reaches COVID-19 Vaccine Milestone As of today, all incarcerated individuals at the Utah State Prison (USP) in Draper and at the Central Utah Correctional Facility (CUCF) in Gunnison have been offered at least one COVID19 vaccination, aside from recent intakes.
More than 2,659 individuals have been fully vaccinated, which accounts for USP, CUCF and state incarcerated individuals housed at a county jail.
“In regards to the pandemic, we have reached several huge milestones for Corrections,” said Brian Nielson, executive director for the Utah Department of Corrections. “We are excited to see a gradual return to normalcy as we continue to work closely with state and local health officials on steps moving forward.”
The Utah Department of Corrections will continue to offer vaccinations to those who would like to receive one. New intakes will be offered the COVID-19 vaccination as staffing and vaccines are available.
There are no active cases of COVID-19 at either USP or CUCF.
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COMMUNICATIONS TO INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS:
October 2020 Newsletter
COVID-19 Initial Guidance April 2020