Flattening the Curve for Incarcerated Populations — Covid-19 in Jails and Prisons

Source:

Akiyama, M. J., Spaulding, A. C., & Rich, J. D. (2020). Flattening the Curve for Incarcerated Populations—Covid-19 in Jails and Prisons. New England Journal of Medicine.

“Social distancing” is a strategy for reducing transmission and “flattening the curve” of cases entering the health care system. Although correctional facilities face risks similar to those of community health care systems, social distancing is extremely challenging in these settings. Furthermore, half of all incarcerated persons have at least one chronic disease, and according to the U.S. Department of Justice, 81,600 are over the age of 60, factors that increase the risk of poor outcomes of infection. With limited ability to protect themselves and others by self-isolating, hundreds of thousands of susceptible people are at heightened risk for severe illness.