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Some of the largest and most deadly COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred in our country s prisons. The latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that incarcerated people be included in phase 1B of vaccine distribution. But most states in the Mountain West are breaking with that guidance.
According to preliminary plans, correctional workers across our region will be vaccinated during phase 1, but only New Mexico will vaccinate incarcerated people during the first tier of distribution. Inmates in Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming will be vaccinated during phase 2 or later.
Medical and public health experts serving on Colorado s medical advisory board originally placed incarcerated people near the front of the line for vaccination, ahead of most healthy adults over the age of 65. But in a December press conference, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis walked that back.
Colorado Public Radio
This week, there are almost 400 prison guards out sick with COVID-19 and more than 1,100 prisoners with active infections across the state.
Throughout the month of December, Gov. Jared Polis has considered asking the National Guard to help with basic operations inside the state’s prisons laundry, meal preparation, trash removal because massive COVID-19 outbreaks among correctional officers and inmates have sparked a staffing crisis.
This week, there are almost 400 prison guards out sick with COVID-19 and more than 1,100 prisoners with active infections across the state. Seventeen inmates have died so far during the pandemic.
The number of correctional officers on leave has actually improved in recent days it was more than 530 earlier in the month.
We wanted to give you an update on the urgent situation within the state prison system as a result of COVID-19 and the latest on the Governor’s statewide vaccination plan.
On 12/9/20, the Governor revealed his statewide vaccination plan
and stated that he intends to treat incarcerated people “just like the general public” and only prioritize vaccinating people in prison who are 65 years of age or older or those who are in a high-risk group due to underlying medical conditions. DOC staff would have higher priority, just like other law enforcement.
This is contrary to the recommendation made to the Governor by
‘Of course, it feels unsafe’: Colorado prisons face staffing crisis as hundreds of guards, inmates sickened
This week, there are almost 400 prison guards out sick with COVID-19 and more than 1,100 prisoners with active infections across the state.
Credit: Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Barbed wire surrounds the Colorado Correctional Center at Camp George West outside Golden, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. Author: Allison Sherry (Colorado Public Radio News) Published: 12:51 PM MST December 18, 2020 Updated: 1:03 PM MST December 18, 2020
COLORADO, USA Throughout the month of December, Gov. Jared Polis has considered asking the National Guard to help with basic operations inside the state’s prisons laundry, meal preparation, trash removal because massive COVID-19 outbreaks among correctional officers and inmates have sparked a staffing crisis.
The Colorado Correctional Center at Camp George West outside Golden, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020.
Throughout the month of December, Gov. Jared Polis has considered asking the National Guard to help with basic operations inside the state’s prisons laundry, meal preparation, trash removal because massive COVID-19 outbreaks among correctional officers and inmates have sparked a staffing crisis.
This week, there are almost 400 prison guards out sick with COVID-19 and more than 1,100 prisoners with active infections across the state. Seventeen inmates have died so far during the pandemic.
The number of correctional officers on leave has actually improved in recent days it was more than 530 earlier in the month.