COVID-19 cases and testing in 53 prison systems

Abstract

Background COVID-19 has entered United States prison systems at alarming rates. Disparities in social and structural determinants of health disproportionately affect those experiencing incarceration, making them more vulnerable to COVID-19. Additionally, prisons are sites of congregate living, making it impossible to practice social distancing, and most prisons have relied only on incremental measures to reduce risk and spread of COVID-19. To more fully understand the impact that COVID-19 is having on incarcerated populations, it is critical to have systematic data on testing, test positivity, cases, and case fatality. Using data from the COVID Prison Project, we present data on 53 prison systems COVID-19 testing, test positivity, case, and case fatality by state and compare these data with each state’s general population. We do this for the early stages of the pandemic, utilizing data through July 15, 2020. Results Many states are not reporting full information on COVID testing with some also not reporting on case fatality. Among those reporting data, there is a wide variation between testing, test positivity, and case rates within prison systems and as compared to the general population. However, when more tests are deployed more cases are identified with the majority of state prisons having higher case rates than their general population. Conclusions These findings underscore the need for the implementation and study of COVID-19 mitigation and surveillance strategies to flatten the COVID-19 curve in prisons across the country. We call for future research to build on these data from the COVID Prison Project to protect the health of our nations’ often forgotten residents.

Locked up While Locked Down: Prisoners’ Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Priority testing for prison staff and routine testing of all prisoners were demanded by the Prison Officers’ Association in April 2020; and international guidance underscored the importance of mandatory mass testing in prisons, because a majority of identified cases were pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic ( Lemasters et al 2020 ). A voluntary mass prisoner testing project ran in 28 prisons in August 2020, including two in our sample (respondents reported that they were never told the results).…”

Risk of COVID-19 infection among prison staff in the United States

“…The objective of this study is to estimate the cumulative prevalence of COVID-19 cases among U.S. prison staff (e.g., COs, correctional healthcare workers, other clerical/admin) over time and compare it to the prison inmate population and the general U.S. population, overall. Previous research has estimated national prevalence for people in prison of various state and federal prison systems in the United States [ 33 ], as well as substantial variation across U.S. states [ 34 ]. Since prisons operate at different jurisdictional levels (e.g., state), we therefore examine the risk of COVID-19 infection among prison staff compared to the general population within the same jurisdiction.…”

Rapid Spread of SARS-CoV-2 in a State Prison After Introduction by Newly Transferred Incarcerated Persons — Wisconsin, August 14–October 22, 2020

“…Because of ongoing within-facility movement of staff members and incarcerated persons, staff members and incarcerated persons both might have contributed to the prolonged outbreak. Assignment of staff members to specific units and routine testing of staff members might reduce within-facility and community transmission ( 1 , 6 , 7 ); however, sufficient staffing and testing resources would be needed. Other prevention measures such as movement restriction during an outbreak should be considered for staff members and incarcerated persons.…”