Ohio Recommends Release Of 38 Prisoners Amid Coronavirus Spread

COLUMBUS, OH — As the new coronavirus continues to spread in the state, Ohio officials are recommending the early release of 38 prisoners: 15 inmates over the age of 60, who are within 60 days of release, and 13 women who are pregnant or recently had a child. The announcement comes the same day as six inmates at Cuyahoga County jail tested positive for COVID-19.

"I felt it was important to look at our prison population. We have almost 49,000 prisoners. We've started to look at different prisons who it might make sense to send home early," Gov. Mike DeWine said during a news conference on Friday.

As of Friday afternoon, there were 3,312 confirmed cases of COVID-19. According to the state health department, 91 Ohioans have died due to COVID-19 and 895 people have been hospitalized because of the virus. Nearly 300 people are in intensive care due to complications from COVID-19.

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Preparing for the Surge

Major General John Harris, of the National Guard, is working with different regions of Ohio to expand health care capacity. On Friday, he said the plan is to build-out capacity to separate COVID-19 infected patients from non-viral patients during the worst days of the pandemic.

The Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio State University are working together to expand the state's testing capacity. Officials at the two institutions are creating swabs and tubes to transport testing liquid, DeWine announced Friday.

"Also - there is a shortage in the chemicals or reagents necessary to run the tests. Again, we have a group working on that to make sure these are available. The testing is complex and we are working to ramp up testing. That won't be set up overnight, but we are making progress," DeWine said.

Battelle will also sterilize masks for hospitals for free for the next two weeks, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced. Hospital administrators should visit the Battelle website and let them know what they need and when.

Dr. Amy Acton, director of the state health department, predicts COVID-19 cases will peak between mid-April and mid-May, she said Thursday. To try and flatten the impending surge, Ohio's stay-at-home order was extended through at least May 1. Many businesses will remain shuttered, despite record unemployment claims.

The mandate also limited the size of wedding receptions and closed traditional summer gathering spots, like camps and community pools.

More reading:

• HIV Positive Inmate To Ohio Supreme Court: 'People Will Die Here In A Pandemic'
• Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Payments: What You Need To Do In Ohio
• 6 Cuyahoga County Jail Inmates Positive For Coronavirus
• What The New Stay-At-Home Order Means For Ohioans
• Ohio Trying To Speed Up Police Training, Recruit Retirees