More employees in Nebraska’s prison system have tested positive for COVID-19, as state health figures show the overall number of cases in the state surpassing 15,000.

A news release last Friday from the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said two more state prisons employees tested positive this week for the virus, bringing the systemwide total to 18.

One of the two new cases is a staff member at the state prison at Tecumseh. The second was attending a staff training academy.

The department said it will notify others at both locations about the new cases. Department officials also are directing anyone who may have had close contact with the infected staff members to self-quarantine until they are cleared by a medical provider.

Nebraska’s official online coronavirus tracking portal last Friday showed the state’s total case at 15,117, including 186 total deaths from the coronavirus.