INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana’s top health official said Thursday that 80 inmates at the Westfield Correctional Facility have tested positive for COVID-19 and are being isolated from the rest of the prison population.
Dr. Kristina Box, commissioner of the Indiana State Department of Health, said the close living environment is ripe for the rapid transmission of the novel coronavirus, which claimed the life of one 70-year-old inmate earlier in the week. She was providing her daily COVID-19 update at Gov. Eric Holcomb’s virtual press briefing.
Earlier in the week, a group of pastors and civic leaders urged state officials to take action to protect the health and safety of jail and prison inmates who might be at risk because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Faith in Indiana, formerly IndyCAN!, conducted an online prayer vigil this week in support of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and to pray for current prisoners who may be at greater risk of contracting the highly contagious novel coronavirus while behind bars. Faith in Indiana is a religious group who collectively act for racial and economic justice.
