Hundreds of inmates are being released from jails across the US to stop coronavirus spread
HUNDREDS of inmates are being released from jails across the US to stop the killer coronavirus from spreading behind bars.
Officials in New York, California, Ohio, and other states are ousting elderly or ailing jailbirds to curb the outbreak.
NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio confirmed the emergency measure on Sunday after mentioning it several times over the past two weeks.
His office stated 23 inmates "at high-risk for COVID-19 related complications and low-risk of re-offending" will be released from City jail facilities.
So far, 27 out of a total of 40 detainees the city plans to release in a COVID-19 jailbreak.
But the City has compiled an additional list of 200 detainees for potential release, who are serving 90-days or less.
The final decision will be announced on Monday, March 23.
The same amount of jailbirds could be released from the Salt Lake County jail in the coming days, according to the .
District Attorney Sim Gill revealed authorities intended to release 90 inmates, the majority of them being women, on Friday evening to flatten the curve.
Elsewhere, LA Sheriff Alex Villanueva confirmed his office from 17,076 inmates to 16,459 in a fortnight.
reports 314 people were up for early release at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California, while 67 others were released by the court on their own recognizance orders.
Cuyahoga County jail in Ohio also released hundreds of inmates over the weekend as the virus spread through the jail.
Jail officials in San Francisco and San Mateo County are working with the District Attorney, and Public Defender offices to decide who may could be released early.
President Trump confirmed officials were "looking at" releasing at elderly, non-violent offenders who were at risk of contracting the disease.
As heavily populate jails scramble to mitigate the spread, the killer coronavirus has surged through all 50 states, killing 417 people and infecting thousands.
There was an outbreak at, where Harvey Weinstein was previously held, leaving over 40 inmates and staff infected.
VOCAL New York, a grassroots advocacy organization, revealed that " yesterday, as cases surge in the notorious island prison.
As overcrowded facilities grapple with the crisis, over 100 million Americans have been ordered to stay indoors and avoid large gatherings in many states.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Infection rates have soared in New York, California, and Washington state, prompting Trump to declare the three states "disaster" zones.
As of Sunday, March 22, over 33,276 people are infected with the virus that first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
The US is now the third worst affected country in the world, surpassed only by China and hard-hit Italy.
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
Email us at [email protected] or call 212 416 4552.