California prisons reported a huge spike in COVID cases among staff this month, as the highly infectious Omron variant spiked infections across the United States.
Infections of employees increased by over 212% in January 3,800 active cases In dozens of state facilities. The debate comes amid a debate over a federal judge’s order that all prison workers should be vaccinated, a mandate that is facing legal challenges from the governor and corrections officers union.
Currently, 69% of prison personnel are fully vaccinated, according to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, although the percentage varies greatly from prison to prison. In three facilities, less than 50% of employees are fully vaccinated, according to Department,
Meanwhile, 80% of prisoners lodged in state prisons are fully vaccinated. As cases among the workforce increased, state prisons have reported active infections among 2,358 active people in the past two weeks. infection in captive people 301% rose Between 26 December and 2 January.
The state announced last week that it would suspend visits for 15 days at every facility to reduce the spread of infection.
“The CDCR recognizes that visiting is an important way to maintain family and community ties. At the same time, our first priority is the health and safety of those who live and work in our facilities.” the department said in an announcement.
With 257 active employee cases, Stockton, a California health facility that houses people with long-term medical and mental health needs, currently has the most employee cases of any state prison facility. The prison staff vaccination rate is 84%, the highest in the state – those working in prisons with health facilities that require vaccinations.
The surge has come as cases rise across California due to the Omicron variant. The state recorded more than 300,000 new cases this weekend. Omicron appears to be the cause of low serious illness, especially among those who have been vaccinated, but this has led to a huge increase in infections affecting California’s health system.
have lawyers for prisoners warning that unaffiliated prison workers could cause another deadly Covid surge in state facilities, and alleged that workers failed to undergo twice-weekly testing as required.
Meanwhile, the legal battle over a vaccine mandate for prison workers is still on. In October 2021, a federal judge ordered that all prison personnel be vaccinated because they pose a risk to those held in captivity. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who previously ordered a COVID-19 vaccine or test for all state workers, sought to appeal the mandate.
In November a federal appeals court temporarily stayed the judge’s order, which was due to take effect this month. The appeal will be heard in March.
Law enforcement across California, along with corrections officials, has pushed back against the COVID vaccine mandate. The Los Angeles Police Union sued the city requiring that all employees be vaccinated or given medical or religious exemptions, claiming the order violated their civil rights. this week one federal judge Suit dismissed.
Since the start of the pandemic, 268 people in California’s prisons have died of COVID-19 and more than 54,000 have been infected. Forty-nine jail staff have died of Covid.