COVID-19 cases and testing in 53 prison systems

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  • Lemasters, K.
    • Affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Epidemiology
  • McCauley, E.
    • Other Affiliation: Cornell University
  • Nowotny, K.
    • Other Affiliation: University of Miami
  • Brinkley-Rubinstein, L.
    • Affiliation: School of Medicine, UNC Center for Health Equity Research
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.
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  • Article
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  • In Copyright
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  • Attribution 3.0 United States
Journal title
  • Health and Justice
Journal volume
  • 8
Journal issue
  • 1
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  • English
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  • Publisher
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  • 2194-7899
Publisher
  • BioMed Central Ltd

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