ATASCADERO — Atascadero State Hospital is dealing with an outbreak of COVID-19 cases — between 1 and 10 inmate-patients and between 1 and 10 staff members have tested positive in the past 14 days, according to the California Department of State Hospitals.

Since CDSH began tracking COVID-19 cases in March, ASH has administered 1,480 tests — this number includes retesting. During this time, between 1 and 10 inmate-patients and a total of 21 staff members have tested positive. CDSH does not indicate the actual number of inmates-patients and staff that have tested positive in the past 14 days only that between 1 and 10 positive tests have been reported.

The information is available online at https://www.dsh.ca.gov/COVID-19/Patient_and_Staff_COVID-19_Tracking.html.

The Department of State Hospitals-Atascadero is a secure forensic hospital with approximately 1,184 beds. It opened in 1954 and is a psychiatric hospital constructed within a secure perimeter. The majority of the all-male patient population is remanded for treatment by county superior courts or by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).

Approximately 2,140 employees work at ASH, providing round-the-clock care, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, psychiatric technicians, registered nurses, and other clinical and administrative staff.

Editor’s Note: Clarified how the number of positive tests is reported for inmate-patients and staff members over the past 14 days.