FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky prison has been hit by hundreds of coronavirus cases, prompting action to separate inmates into housing units based on their health conditions to try to contain the outbreak.
Testing of inmates and staff at the Green River Correctional Complex revealed more than 300 additional virus cases, Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday. The prison accounted for nearly half the statewide total number of cases reported Tuesday, resulting in a one-day high for the state.
Beshear called it a “concerning situation” as his administration takes steps to contain the virus’ spread at the western Kentucky prison. When factoring in previous coronavirus cases, the infection rate has reached about 40% at the prison, he said.
J. Michael Brown, secretary of Beshear’s executive Cabinet, said at least two people at the prison have died from COVID-19. A third death last weekend is potentially virus-related, he said. Four people are hospitalized — two staff members and two inmates, he said.
The governor pointed to increased statewide testing for the virus as a reason for his confidence. The state achieved a big breakthrough by increasing its supplies of swabs needed for testing, he said.
“Now it looks like we have both significant amounts of swabs coming from the federal government, which I am grateful,” Beshear said. “That’s something that has opened up. And we also believe we may have had a breakthrough in how to manufacture swabs.”
Beshear
said he’s monitoring the number of virus cases but added: “In the
general population, we believe right now it’s at a level where, if we
take all these precautions, we can do this safely.”
But he added: “I’m not going to be afraid to pause things if we believe that we’re not ready, or the situation is dangerous.”
Source: Mountain Top
