Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for coronavirus, the head of the New York state corrections officers union confirmed to NBC News Monday.
Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, said he had learned a day earlier the convicted rapist and sex abuser had tested positive. Weinstein has been at Wende Correctional Facility near Buffalo, New York, since his transfer from Rikers Island.
Powers said Weinstein is currently in isolation at the prison and seven staff at the facility who came in contact with him have been quarantined.
"While a lot of other people are working from home, we are keeping our community safe," Powers said.
Weinstein's spokesperson said Sunday they could not confirm the diagnosis, but did confirm he has been at the prison. At least one other inmate there has tested positive. The facility holds more than 40,000 inmates.
According to The Niagara Gazette, Weinstein may have been infected before he was transferred from Rikers Island. New York City officials have since reported more than three dozen positive cases of the novel coronavirus among inmates and employees at Rikers Island.
The upstate prison, six hours by car from Manhattan, is likely just a temporary stop for Weinstein. While he's there, he'll be evaluated to determine which state prison facility meets his security, medical, mental health and other needs.
