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The Virginia Department of Health reported 55 new cases of COVID-19 in Southampton County on Wednesday, most of which appear to be tied to an ongoing outbreak at the Deerfield Correctional Center.

According to Gregory Carter, deputy director of communications for the Virginia Department of Corrections, the department conducted COVID-19 testing on Oct. 12 in one housing unit at Deerfield, resulting in 56 new active cases of the disease.

“Offenders testing positive are placed in medical isolation so they don’t infect others,” Carter said. “Treatment follows the department’s COVID medical guidelines.”

According to the Department of Corrections website, Deerfield now has a total of 825 COVID-19-positive inmates, 79 of which remain incarcerated on-site. Nineteen inmates have died. Nine staff members are also infected.

The seven-day positivity rate in the Western Tidewater Health District was 5.2% as of Thursday, slightly elevated above the statewide rate of 4.7%. The district has been on a downward trend in recent weeks, however.