Former film producer Harvey Weinstein, who’s serving a jail sentence for sexual assault and rape, has examined optimistic for the coronavirus, based on the top of the state corrections officers union.
Weinstein, 68, has been positioned in isolation at Wende Correctional Facility, mentioned Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Affiliation.
Powers mentioned he realized that the check got here again optimistic on Sunday morning and is anxious concerning the corrections officers, who he mentioned lack correct protecting gear. A number of employees have been quarantined, Powers mentioned.
Weinstein arrived at Wende Correctional Facility, a most safety jail east of Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday after being housed at New York Metropolis’s Rikers Island jail.
He was sentenced to 23 years in jail on March 11 for sexually assaulting former manufacturing assistant Mimi Haleyi and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress.
Following the sentencing, Weinstein hung out at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan for coronary heart issues, based on his spokesman, Juda Engelmayer. He additionally has different medical points, together with diabetes and hypertension.
A lawyer for Weinstein mentioned on Sunday evening that his authorized group had not been notified of the coronavirus prognosis.
“Given Mr. Weinstein’s state of health, we are of course concerned, if this is the case, and we are vigilantly monitoring the situation,” mentioned lawyer Imran Ansari, who relies in New York.
The Niagara Gazette, an area newspaper in upstate New York, reported that Weinstein had examined optimistic for the extremely contagious virus earlier Sunday, citing nameless officers.
Two prisoners on the Wende Facility have confirmed circumstances of COVID-19, a state jail official advised Reuters. The official mentioned he couldn’t touch upon any particular person prisoner’s medical report.
The official advised Reuters that, with every confirmed case, the Division of Corrections works with the Division of Well being to establish doubtlessly uncovered folks.
Mark David Chapman, who murdered Beatle John Lennon in 1980, served a few of his time at Wende Correctional Facility, as did Robert Chambers, dubbed the “Preppie killer,” who strangled 18-year-old Jennifer Levin in New York Metropolis’s Central Park in 1986.
Weinstein’s conviction was hailed as a victory for the #MeToo motion towards sexual misconduct by highly effective males.
Greater than 100 girls, together with well-known actresses, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct stretching again a long time. He has denied the allegations, saying any intercourse was consensual.
Weinstein additionally faces separate sexual assault prices in Los Angeles.
Weinstein received an Academy Award for producing Shakespeare in Love and was answerable for different acclaimed movies together with Pulp Fiction, The English Affected person and Gangs of New York.
