WASHINGTON — D.C. Department of Corrections has reported that more than 100 people in their custody at the D.C. Central Detention Facility tested positive for COVID-19.
The total number of positive coronavirus cases with DOC sits at 122, with 68 of the inmates having recovered from the virus and returning to general population. Fifty-four residents are still in isolation, according to DOC.
All 13 of the newest cases were housed at the Central Detention Facility.
Deon Crowell, 51, passed away Monday morning, after being hospitalized from COVID-19, DOC officials confirm. He was the first death reported by DOC.
DOC officials said in an early release that a 51-year-old man was transported to a local hospital for observation. It is not known specifically if this was Crowell.
The DOC’s Medical Department and Unity Healthcare are working with DC Health on contact tracing and to protect the health and wellbeing of all individuals in DOC’s facilities.
DOC officers filed a lawsuit alleging inmates at staff are not being properly protected during the outbreak.
The allegations include little to no personal protective equipment available to corrections officers, a lack of cleaning supplies, social distancing as non-existent, lack of "true quarantine" in the facility, and that proper notification for individuals who have come into contact with inmates/officers who test positive for coronavirus is not happening.
