Harvey Weinstein tests positive for coronavirus in prison

Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for coronavirus while in prison.

The movie producer is now in isolation at the maximum security Wende Correctional Facility in New York state, law enforcement officials told Deadline.

Weinstein's reps are yet to confirm his positive test – his publicist said “our team… has not heard anything like that yet”.

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He was moved from Riker's Island prison to the facility near Buffalo just days ago after being convicted for two sex crime felony charges in February.

The Oscar-winning producer was sentenced to 23 years in prison in March.

Weinstein appeared for his trial using a walking frame, and his defence cited various health issues prior to his incarceration, including back and heart problems, as a basis for a shorter sentence.

He was admitted to hospital with chest pains the day after his sentencing.

New York is the hardest-hit state in the US in terms of coronavirus cases, and is being dubbed the “epicentre” of the US outbreak, with around 5% of global cases.

The state's 43,000 prison inmates across various facilities are now considered a high-risk category.

40 inmates at Riker's Island have already tested positive for the virus, according to reports, though it's not known whether Weinstein contracted it while at his previous facility or the current one.

The Niagara Gazette was the first to scoop the story.

Weinstein was first arrested in 2018 on charges of sexual assault. After pleading not guilty, he was convicted in a six-week trail by jury on 24 February.