The Arizona Department of Corrections says it will increase testing of its staff in an attempt to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in state prisons. 

In a statement, the Department of Corrections said Sonora Quest Laboratories will be conducting COVID-19 antibody testing at the state prison in Florence for employees and contract staff.

The testing will take place from June 16 through 18. ADC previously worked with a regional health care provider to offer testing for staff at the Yuma prison after an outbreak of COVID-19 there.

There have been 252 inmates in state prisons diagnosed with the virus to date. Seven of them have died.

One hundred seventeen staff members have self-reported infections and one prison educator has died from the virus.

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