In a second round of mass testing in Connecticut prisons, the rate of positive COVID-19 tests dropped from 9% of the prison population to 3%, according to the Department of Correction.

Across the state's 14 correctional facilities, DOC said seven inmates currently have the disease out of 9,400 total imprisoned persons.

Those seven inmates have been isolated from the rest of the population and are being closely monitored for a 14-day period. None of them has symptoms of the disease — no one in a correctional facility has been symptomatic since Sept. 2, the DOC said.

In total, 8,556 tests were administered in the second round of testing, which ran from July 23 to Sept. 8, and 241 inmates tested positive for the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

At Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in Montville, 774 people were tested and 23 were positive, accounting for 3% of the population.

At York Correctional Institution in Niantic, 515 inmates were tested, with none positive.

During DOC's first round of testing this year, 9% of the state's prison population tested positive for the virus. In a news release issued Friday, the DOC said the drop in cases is a result of thorough cleaning in the facilities and all staff members and inmates wearing masks.

The DOC also is conducting mandatory testing for staff who have direct interaction with the prison population. A total of 10,083 correctional professionals have been tested since July — 13 tested positive but had no symptoms. Staff members who test positive are required to quarantine for 14 days and must be cleared by a medical provider to return to work.

t.hartz@theday.com