A surge in COVID-19 cases has left staff at Heart of America Correctional and Treatment Center scrambling to deal with an 80 percent positive rate among inmates and serious illness among staff.

The sharp increase in cases mirrors a spike in COVID positive numbers for Pierce County and North Dakota.

The North Dakota Department of Health placed the total number of positive cases in the state at 8,560 as of Jan. 13. The number represents an average of more than 15 percent of North Dakota’s population. Pierce County saw an increase in cases from a low of one in late December to 24 Jan. 13. The number represents an average rolling positive rate of 11.9 percent.

Mike Graner, administrator at HACTC, said, “We have topped out at 57 positive cases in the offender population.” Graner said the number of cases represents “80% of our current population.”

“At this current time we do not have any inmates that are reporting symptoms beyond mild cold-like symptoms,” Graner added.

Graner said of the inmates, “No one required outside medical care. Symptoms were treated with OTC medication.”

“We have had six staff members that have tested positive for COVID,” Graner added. “Testing is ongoing.”

Staff members haven’t fared as well as the inmates, according to Graner. “One of our staff members is hospitalized and is in critical condition,” Graner said. “I have not received any updates in the past 24 hours on their condition.”

Graner said a lockdown put in place Jan. 7 would continue for at least a week after Jan. 14.

“We will assess again early this next week,” Graner said. “We will see a slow re-opening as a majority of offenders do clear isolation protocol this weekend and early next week.”

“My concern remains staffing at this time,” Graner added. “Offenders may clear isolation, but if staffing is seriously impacted, we will remain in lockdown.”

Graner said visitation, religious and other volunteer services and fingerprinting remain suspended.

“We will likely resume these services starting the week of (Jan. 24) if we continue to trend in our current direction,” Graner added.