Report: Harvey Weinstein tests positive for coronavirus

Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for COVID-19, and has been put into isolation in New York state prison, according to a report from a local newspaper.

The disgraced movie mogul and convicted rapist is currently serving a 23-year term at the Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison outside Buffalo, New York, after being found guilty on two charges of a criminal sex act and rape in the third degree.

Weinstein is one of two inmates at Wende Correctional Facility who have tested positive for coronavirus, according to the Niagara Gazette, a local newspaper in Albany, New York.

When contacted by Variety, Weinstein's spokesman said he did not have information regarding Weinstein testing positive for COVID-19. Variety also spoke to an attorney for Weinstein and his prison consultant, who both also said they could not confirm the report.

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) confirmed to Variety that out of 43,000 inmates in custody statewide, only two cases have been confirmed. Both of those cases are at Wendy. DOCCS would not confirm Weinstein's condition, due to their privacy policy.

The Niagara Gazette report cites "officials connected to the state prison system," as their sources who say Weinstein has tested positive for the virus, but spoke to the paper anonymously, since they were not authorised to speak on Weinstein's condition.

The sources told the newspaper it is believed Weinstein had already contracted the virus by the time he entered the state prison system last Wednesday when he was transferred from Rikers Island in New York City.

Prior to being transferred to Rikers, Weinstein was at Bellevue Hospital in New York City where he was being monitored for a heart condition and high blood pressure. Prior to his sentencing, Weinstein underwent an angioplasty at Bellevue.

The newspaper spoke to Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, who would not comment on Weinstein, due to inmate privacy rules.

Powers did note that the union has asked state corrections officials to suspend all non essential inmate transfers from one state facility to another to avoid the spread of coronavirus, during the global pandemic. "There is no better breeding ground for this virus than a closed environment such as a correctional facility," he told the newspaper.

As a precaution during the coronavirus crisis, DOCCS suspended all visitors to prison inmates last week.

Words by AAP

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