At least 12 California state prison employees have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The department keeps a running tally of how many staff members have tested positive. The list describes where the employees work, but it does not say whether they are correctional officers, health care employees or other staff.

As of Thursday, four prison employees tested positive for COVID-19 at the California Institution for Men in Chino; three at California State Prison, Sacramento; and one each at Folsom State Prison; California Health Care Facility in Stockton; and the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison at Corcoran. Infections were announced Thursday at Wasco State Prison in Kern County and at San Quentin.

On Wednesday, Department Secretary Ralph Diaz issued a pair of video messages, one intended for staff and the other for the state’s inmate population.

In the message to staff, Diaz praised prison employees for working under difficult circumstances, and said their jobs are vital.

“Because the reality is the individuals in our care, they’re going to be going home regardless of COVID or not. And I want to make sure that we’re sending inmates out back into the community as healthy as you and I are, because what we don’t want to do is infect the community,” Diaz said in the video to staff.

The department has tested 167 inmates and so far one inmate, at California State Prison Los Angeles County, has tested positive.

Lawyers for California inmates have asked a federal three-judge panel for an order to release thousands of inmates from custody due to the risk of coronavirus to those behind bars.

“The state must act now if it is to stop the global COVID-19 pandemic from running rampant in its prison system and striking down the most vulnerable people in its custody,” the attorneys said in an emergency motion filed late Wednesday.

CDCR has implemented mandatory verbal screening for every person entering any work location since March 14, in line with screenings in place at prisons.

Those attempting to enter a state prison or office building at any time are required to verbally respond if they currently have new or worsening symptoms of a respiratory illness. If the individual’s response is that they are experiencing symptoms, they will be restricted from entering the site that day.

CDCR also stated that all of its institutions have been instructed to conduct additional deep-cleaning efforts in high-traffic, high-volume areas, including visiting and health care facilities. Additional hand sanitizer dispensing stations are placed inside adult institution entrances and visiting areas.

Staff have been granted permission to carry up to two ounces of personal-use hand sanitizer, the department said. The incarcerated population is being provided extra soap when requested and hospital-grade disinfectant that meets Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for COVID-19, according to the department.

This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 12:07 PM.