LENOX TWP., Mich. (WXYZ) — Soon, 120 inmates who have tested positive for the coronavirus will be placed at Macomb County Correctional Facility. These inmates come from other state prisons as far away as the UP, according to a spokesperson with the facility.
The unit inside the prison will be secure and fenced-in for only prisoners with COVID-19. Also, staff who work within the facility caring for those prisoners will not be entering the main part of the prison to prevent the possible spread of the virus. Officials at the prison have conferred with local hospitals and health care officials ahead of this move.
"This is a proactive measure the department is taking to move prisoners with underlying health conditions who are COVID positive to an area where we have a full complement of nursing and health care staff and where there is capacity in the community if prisoners were to need hospitalization," said Chris Guatz with the MDOC.
Guatz adds that the vast majority of prisoners have been asymptomatic.
Macomb County Correctional Facility has a capacity of 1,400 inmates with 1,200 current prisoners.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.
Visit our The Rebound Detroit, a place where we are working to help people impacted financially from the coronavirus. We have all the information on everything available to help you through this crisis and how to access it.