Milwaukee correctional facility set to open COVID-19 alternative care facility

A new alternative care facility for inmates with COVID-19 will soon go live at the Milwaukee County House of Correction in Franklin.

Colonel Aaron Reisinger, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Chicago District, said they’ve built 120 COVID-19 patient care spaces at the facility. They’ll turn them over to the state on Wednesday.

“It’s important for us to create a safe working environment for the healthcare workers, the correction officers and the patients,” he said Monday.

The facility costs around $6 million, which was covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.

It was about half of what was budgeted, Reisinger said. He noted negotiations on the final cost were still ongoing as of Monday.

Crowley said the facility will also serve inmates throughout the state, helping to separate those with COVID-19 from the general population.

“We want to make sure that we’re good partners with our neighbors to make sure that we’re flattening the curve, particularly in our institutions,” Crowley said.

Crowley said they made the decision to build out the facility when there were more than 100 COVID-19 cases reported at the House of Correction. The National Guard ran a testing site there last month.

The Army Corps of Engineers also built out the surge facility at State Fair Park in West Allis. It developed plans for a similar facility at the Alliant Energy Center that has been placed on hold.

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