Harvey Weinstein tests positive for COVID-19 in New York State Prison

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

One would argue that the universe makes certain things happen but I'll let you decide as you read how this story plays out. Harvey Weinstein, who was recently sentenced to 23 years in prison on two sex crime felony charges, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The once-powerful movie mogul and now convicted rapist, is in medical isolation after being transferred to the Wende Correctional Facility from NYC’s Rikers Island.

Originally reported by the local "Niagara Gazette", Weinstein was moved to Wende on March 18 and is one of two prisoners at the 961 capacity maximum security facility who was put in isolation after testing positive for the coronavirus. Weinstein just turned 68 years old which puts him in the age range that is more susceptible to a life-threatening outcome. It's unknown whether Weinstein contracted the disease at the East River complex or when he was in hospital in Manhattan over the past few weeks.

Both locations are said to be hot spots for the virus and New York state itself has taken the biggest hit domestically of the ever-expanding coronavirus. There are more than 43,000 prisoners in the state’s already overwhelmed prison system and that puts it in a high-risk category for the virus, 40 inmates at Rikers have reportedly been found positive for COVID-19 in the past week which lines up with Weinstein's time there.

Weinstein was found guilty on February 24 of two sex crime felony charges after a nearly six-week trial. The embattled former Oscar-winning producer behind films like SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE & GOOD WILL HUNTING, also has a case awaiting in Los Angeles where he faces multiple sex crimes charges. He still has the right to appeal his New York conviction but this recent diagnosis might put a snag in both of these endeavors since America is essentially shut down over the COVID-19 spread. Weinstein is also allegedly riddled with health issues which makes him even more high risk now that he has tested positive for the virus. 

Not too many nice things to say here. Considering how much pain this man has allegedly caused it's hard to muster up any sympathy for what he is contending with. I've had a few people ask me why was he able to get a coronavirus test when so many people can't? I'm just going to assume that he showed symptoms and because of his age and the fact that he's being carted around by multiple prison personnel, he likely fell in the category of someone who qualified for it. You don't want the virus to spread from him to the people working at the prison and so on. I don't think Weinstein getting the test was a matter a privilege and more of a matter of necessity. 

Do YOU think he qualified for a test based on the circumstances?