A staff member at an Iowa prison is recovering at home after testing positive for COVID-19.
The Iowa Department of Corrections says the staffer reporting feeling ill, but the facility didn't have as much personal protective equipment as they need.
Every staff member has one mask but they do not have enough for each member to have three masks so all members could wear one at all times.
"That week that the officer became ill, we had not produced enough masks for everyone in the department to have several masks yet, officers and inmates," said Cord Overton with Iowa DOC. "Thankfully, by this weekend ... we now have enough enough to have three masks for every officer and three masks for every inmate."
Staff members are now required to wear masks at all times. Inmates are not required to wear masks right now, but they are given the option too. Staff members are letting inmates know the importance of wearing a a mask.
So far, 58 inmates have been tested for COVID-19.
"I think every single one of those employees is taking this threat very serious," Overton said. "And frankly, I think that's part of the reason you haven't seen more positive cases in our corrections system yet."