Noticing ever-growing number of states with an ever-growing number of prisoner and prison staff deaths due to COVID-19
Six week ago, via this post, I first flagged how the looming threat of the coronavirus could be especially worrisome for incarcerated populations and workers at jails and prisons. A few weeks later, starting with posts here and here, I began flagging new reports of prisoners and staffers testing positive for COVID-19 in multiple states. And, earlier this month via this post, I started noting the start of the (all-too-predictable) next stage of this pubic health tragedy in the form of multiple reports from multiple location of prisoners and staff dying from COVID-19. Today, perhaps due to a recent death in an Ohio state facility, I feel compelled to do another review of headlines documenting this ever-expanding tragic reality in ever-more states:
California: “Member of L.A. jail nursing staff who died had coronavirus“
Connecticut: “First incarcerated person dies as COVID-19 spikes behind bars“
Georgia: “Second Lee St. Prison inmate dies of COVID-19“
Illinois: “Coronavirus update: 5 deaths now reported at Stateville Prison“
Louisiana: “DOC confirms Angola staff member died from COVID-19-related complications“
Maryland: “Inmate Dies as COVID-19 Cases in MD Correctional Facilities Rise“
Michigan: “3 more Michigan prison inmates die from COVID-19“
Mississippi: “Mississippi inmate who died tested positive for COVID-19“
New Jersey: “Veteran N.J. corrections officer, father of 3, dies from coronavirus at 44“
New York: “Second Rikers Island inmate dead from coronavirus after failed release“
Ohio: “Pickaway Correctional inmate becomes first state inmate to die after testing positive for COVID-19“
Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania prisons report first inmate death of coronavirus; two more Northampton County Jail inmates test positive“
Texas: “Texas prison guard dies after being hospitalized with COVID-19“
Virgina: “Female Inmate Is Virginia Prisons’ First Coronavirus Death“
Washington DC: “DC Jail inmate dies after testing positive for the coronavirus“