Public Health Response to COVID-19 Cases in Correctional and Detention Facilities - Louisiana, March-April 2020.

This report describes COVID-19 prevalence in correctional and detention facilities detected through surveillance and findings of the CMAR assessment. During March 25-April 22, 489 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 37 (7.6%) hospitalizations and 10 (2.0%) deaths among incarcerated or detained persons, and 253 cases, including 19 (7.5%) hospitalizations and four (1.6%) deaths among staff members were reported. During April 8-22, CMAR telephone-based assessments were conducted with 13 of 31 (42%) facilities with laboratory-confirmed cases and 11 of 113 (10%) facilities without known cases. Administrators had awareness and overall understanding of CDC guidance for prevention of transmission in these facilities but reported challenges in implementation, related to limited space to quarantine close contacts of COVID-19 patients and inability of incarcerated and detained persons to engage in social distancing, particularly in dormitory-style housing. CMAR was a useful tool that helped state and federal public health officials assist multiple correctional and detention facilities to better manage COVID-19 patients and guide control activities to prevent or mitigate transmission.
PMID: 32407301 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... - May 14, 2020 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Wallace M, Marlow M, Simonson S, Walker M, Christophe N, Dominguez O, Kleamenakis L, Orellana A, Pagan-Pena D, Singh C, Pogue M, Saucier L, Lo T, Benson K, Sokol T Tags: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Source Type: research