China News Service, April 16 (Xinhua) reported that on the 15th local time, in order to curb the spread of the new coronary pneumonia epidemic in prisons, Washington State Governor Insley signed a commutation order to pave the way for the early release of nearly 1,000 prisoners.
Data Map: Under the influence of the epidemic, people in Washington, DC, wear masks and walk their dogs. China News Agency reporter Sha Hanting
According to reports, an outbreak occurred in a prison in Monroe, Washington about a week ago. At present, a total of 7 prisoners and 5 staff members tested positive for new coronary pneumonia.
According to the commutation order signed by the governor, only non-violent crimes, non-sexual assaults, or crimes that are not serious, and those released on or before June 29 are eligible to be released early. Insley said that eventually up to 950 prisoners could be released in advance.
According to statistics from Johns Hopkins University, as of 4 a.m. local time on the 16th, Washington State had at least 10,971 confirmed cases, including 565 deaths.
The report said that after the epidemic caused more than 600,000 infections and about 30,000 deaths in the United States, many advocacy groups, public health experts and parliamentarians called on the government to consider releasing some of the prisoners, especially non-violent offenders, seniors, people with disabilities and immunity Inmates with poor systems.
According to the US Federal Prison Administration, as of the 15th, 449 inmates and 280 staff members had tested positive for the new coronavirus in federal prisons, and 16 of them died.