Daily US Times: Convicted sex offender and former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for coronavirus while in prison.
President of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association confirmed that he was taken to isolation.
Once a powerful Weinstein became a disgrace after several women accused him of sexual misconduct, including rape. He was found guilty of rape and sexual assault last month and sentenced to 23 years in prison.
His lawyers have vowed to appeal against his conviction.
Mr Weinstein is being held at Wende Correctional Facility near Buffalo in upstate New York. An officer who did not wish to give his name told Reuters news agency that at least two prisoners at the facility tested positive for the virus on Sunday.
Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers confirmed that several members of staff had been quarantined and expressed concerns for the officials who he claims lack proper protective equipment.
Weinstein’s legal team had not been informed of the coronavirus diagnosis, a lawyer has confirmed.
Imran Ansari, a lawyer of his legal team said: “Given Mr Weinstein’s state of health, we are of course concerned, if this is the case, and we are vigilantly monitoring the situation.”
Before coming to this facility, Weinstein had spent time at Rikers Island, a prison in New York City and a hospital where he was treated for heart problems and chest pains.
Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of committing a first-degree criminal sexual act against production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006. He also found guilty of the third-degree rape of aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013.
The judges acquitted him of the most serious charges, of predatory sexual assault, which could have seen him given an even longer jail term.
All six women who testified against him during his trial sat together in the court as he was sentenced and told to register as a sex offender.
