The State Correctional Institute at Retreat in Newport Township, Luzerne County, which the state had previously announced will be closing, will stay open, at least temporarily, due to concerns over the coronavirus.

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, in an announcement made Monday, said instead of closing, SCI-Retreat will be used for quarantining purposes, with all newly sentenced state inmates and parole violators to be filtered through the prison for a period before being transferred to SCI-Camp Hill, the normal first stop for inmates.

“Currently, we have no positive cases of COVID-19 in our state prison inmate population, and we are working to delay the virus entering our system,” Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said. “This change in how we receive newly sentenced inmates and parole violators will reduce the number of ways individuals enter our system. With this plan, moving forward, only one facility will be involved, greatly reducing the ways the virus can enter our system.”

The announcement came as good news to state Sen. John Yudichak, I-14th, who has led the fight in opposition to SCI-Retreat’s planned closing.

He said, “As always, the good people of Newport Township and Luzerne County step up in a time of need, and this time it is the Department of Corrections that needs to put SCI-Retreat back in service to house state inmates who are currently being housed at county correctional facilities.

“The Pennsylvania DOC has assured us all precautions will be taken to ensure the employees of SCI-Retreat and the public will be safe during the transfer and housing of these inmates. We are all in this crisis together, and together we will come through it stronger than ever.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Corrections officials said the move is temporary and didn’t say how it affects Gov. Tom Wolf’s plans to shut SCI-Retreat. After months of debate, Wolf announced in January his final decision to close the prison, which employs about 400 people, by the end of June.

Wetzel said he sent a letter to all county prisons informing them the department is pausing new commitments for several days to prepare for the transition. In preparation for the influx of inmates to SCI-Retreat, officials are transferring SCI-Retreat inmates to other state prisons, while leaving a number of inmates to work in dietary and maintenance areas. Officials also are increasing the medical staff and medical supplies at SCI-Retreat.

Mark Truszkowski, eastern vice president of the state corrections officers union who served for nearly two decades as an officer at SCI-Dallas, said the union has asked Wolf’s office “for all inmate movement to stop, period.”

He said, “The governor’s office was asked on Saturday, and as of today our request has not been answered.”

Truszkowski said new female inmates and parole violators will continue to be received at SCI-Muncy and SCI-Cambridge Springs.

The temporary move also drew comment from Luzerne County Manager Dave Pedri and Newport Township Manager Joe Hillan.

Pedri said, “SCI-Retreat, manned by some of the hardest workers I’ve ever known, will once again be serving the citizens of Pennsylvania. I commend the Department of Corrections for their review and quick action in the face of a compelling need, and I want to thank our Northeast delegation of representatives, led by the dogged determination of Sen. Yudichak, for their commitment to keep NEPA jobs here.”

Hillan added, “Newport Township is here to help and support the Department of Corrections in its goal to keep the coronavirus from spreading throughout the state prison system.

“As demonstrated in the past, Newport Township is always ready, willing and able do our part in providing assistance with necessary public safety measures like the measures that are currently being put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19.”