Massive COVID-19 outbreak reported at a Michigan prison

SAGINAW, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A Michigan prison is currently dealing with a major COVID-19 outbreak.

Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman Chris Gautz told MLive that 774 inmates at Saginaw Correctional Facility have coronavirus which is over half of the prison population there. The facility has nearly 1,400 inmates. Over 300 additional prisoners are in step-down phase, meaning they have been medically cleared because they are now symptom free and are no longer considered contagious. Additionally, 118 staffers at the prison have tested positive for the virus.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 133 inmate deaths from COVID-19 at Michigan prisons, including three at the Saginaw Correctional Facility.