Public health response to COVID-19 cases in correctional and detention facilities \u2014 Louisiana, March\u2013April 2020

What is already known about this topic? Correctional and detention facilities face challenges in controlling the spread of infectious diseases because of crowded, shared environments and potential introductions by staff members and new intakes.What is added by this report? Among 37 jurisdictions reporting, 32 (86%) reported at least one confirmed COVID-19 case among incarcerated or detained persons or staff members, across 420 correctional and detention facilities. As of April 21, 2020, 4,893 cases and 88 deaths among incarcerated and detained persons and 2,778 cases and 15 deaths among staff members have been reported.What are the implications for public health practice? Prompt identification of persons with COVID-19 and consistent application of prevention measures within correctional and detention facilities are critical to protecting incarcerated or detained persons, staff members, and the communities to which they return.An estimated 2.1 million U.S. adults are housed within approximately 5,000 correctional and detention facilities\u2020 on any given day (1). Many facilities face significant challenges in controlling the spread of highly infectious pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Such challenges include crowded dormitories, shared lavatories, limited medical and isolation resources, daily entry and exit of staff members and visitors, continual introduction of newly incarcerated or detained persons, and transport of incarcerated or detained persons in multiperson vehicles for court-related, medical, or security reasons (2,3). During April 22\u201328, 2020, aggregate data on COVID-19 cases were reported to CDC by 37 of 54 state and territorial health department jurisdictions. Thirty-two (86%) jurisdictions reported at least one laboratory-confirmed case from a total of 420 correctional and detention facilities. Among these facilities, COVID-19 was diagnosed in 4,893 incarcerated or detained persons and 2,778 facility staff members, resulting in 88 deaths in incarcerated or detained persons and 15 deaths among staff members. Prompt identification of COVID-19 cases and consistent application of prevention measures, such as symptom screening and quarantine, are critical to protecting incarcerated and detained persons and staff members.To estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 in U.S. correctional and detention facilities, CDC requested aggregate surveillance data from 54 state and territorial health department jurisdictions. Data were provided to CDC during April 22\u201328, 2020 and included laboratory-confirmed cases identified and reported to jurisdictions during January 21\u2013April 21, 2020. Requested data elements included 1) the number of facilities that had reported at least one laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case; 2) the cumulative number of incarcerated or detained persons and staff members with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19; and 3) the cumulative number of COVID-19\u2013associated hospitalizations and deaths among incarcerated or detained persons and staff members. Jurisdictions were asked to include data for persons in the custody of or working for state and local corrections, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Marshals Service, and Federal Bureau of Prisons. Data on the number tested or persons with negative test results were not requested.Thirty-seven (69%) jurisdictions provided aggregate surveillance data; 32 (86%) of those reported at least one laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case among incarcerated or detained persons or staff members. In those 32 jurisdictions, 420 facilities reported 4,893 COVID-19 cases among incarcerated or detained persons and 2,778 cases among staff members (Table). More than half (221; 53%) of the affected facilities reported cases only among staff members. Among COVID-19 cases in incarcerated or detained persons, 491 (10%) COVID-19\u2013associated hospitalizations and 88 (2%) deaths were reported; among staff member cases, 79 (3%) hospitalizations and 15 (1%) deaths were reported. Among the 32 jurisdictions reporting cases, the median number of affected facilities was 10 (range = 1\u201359), the median number of cases in incarcerated or detained persons was 34 (range = 0\u2013858), and the median number of cases in staff members was 26 (range = 1\u2013756).Suggested citation for this article: Wallace M, Hagan L, Curran KG, et al. COVID-19 in Correctional and Detention Facilities \u2014 United States, February\u2013April 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 6 May 2020. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6919e1mm6919e3-H.pdf2020767