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COVID-19 community spread and consequences for prison case rates

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  • Katherine LeMasters
  • Shabbar Ranapurwala
  • Morgan Maner
  • Kathryn M Nowotny
  • Meghan Peterson
  • Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 and mass incarceration are closely intertwined with prisons having COVID-19 case rates much higher than the general population. COVID-19 has highlighted the relationship between incarceration and health, but prior work has not explored how COVID-19 spread in communities have influenced case rates in prisons. Our objective was to understand the relationship between COVID-19 case rates in the general population and prisons located in the same county. Methods: Using North Carolina’s (NC) Department of Health and Human Services data, this analysis examines all COVID-19 tests conducted in NC from June-August 2020. Using interrupted time series analysis, we assessed the relationship between substantial community spread (50/100,000 detected in the last seven days) and active COVID-19 case rates (cases detected in the past 14 days/100,000) within prisons. Results: From June-August 2020, NC ordered 29,605 tests from prisons and detected 1,639 cases. The mean case rates were 215 and 427 per 100,000 in the general and incarcerated population, respectively. Once counties reached substantial COVID-19 spread, the COVID-19 prison case rate increased by 118.55 cases per 100,000 (95% CI: -3.71, 240.81). Conclusions: Community COVID-19 spread contributes to COVID-19 case rates in prisons. In counties with prisons, community spread should be closely monitored. Stringent measures within prisons (e.g., vaccination) and decarceration should be prioritized to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks.

Suggested Citation

  • Katherine LeMasters & Shabbar Ranapurwala & Morgan Maner & Kathryn M Nowotny & Meghan Peterson & Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, 2022. "COVID-19 community spread and consequences for prison case rates," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(4), pages 1-9, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0266772
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266772
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. S. Eric Reinhart & Daniel L. Chen, 2020. "Incarceration And Its Disseminations: COVID-19 Pandemic Lessons From Chicago’sCook County Jail," Post-Print hal-02861592, HAL.
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