MADISON, Wis. — As of Wednesday, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections is reporting a total of 19 inmate deaths due to COVID-19 on its data dashboard.
This is up from last week when the DOC was reporting 14 inmate deaths from the virus.
The number of positive test results from inmates has also increased steadily since the start of December. As of Wednesday, the DOC reported a total of 9,470 positive results, with 1,155 active cases. On Dec. 1, the DOC reported a total of 8,471 positive cases.
The DOC does not include the number of positive cases involving prison staff members on the dashboard.
Deaths are reported only after a medical examiner has ruled COVID-19 as an underlying cause of death. In the past, the DOC has not released the facilities where inmates have died from the virus, and reported deaths on the dashboard typically include a delay from the time of death due to waiting on the medical examiner’s report.
There are currently five correctional facilities in the state reporting at least 100 active cases. Those include Fox Lake, Prairie du Chien, Jackson, Racine and Taycheedah.
Prisoners at facilities where outbreaks have been severe have complained to News 3 Investigates of poorly implemented safety protocols, and prison advocates have called on Gov. Tony Evers to expand the conditions of release.
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