Nearly 70 Percent of Inmates at Central Coast Federal Prison Test Positive for COVID-19
SANTA BARBARA (CNN) -- A total of 823 inmates and 25 staff have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Lompoc federal correctional complex in Santa Barbara County, according to data released Friday by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The complex in Lompoc is comprised of two facilities: Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc: a low-security facility that houses 1,162 inmates and United States Penitentiary Lompoc, a medium-security prison that houses 1,542 inmates.
At the FCI Lompoc facility, 792 of 1,162 inmates -- or approximately 68% of that facility's total inmate population -- have tested positive for the virus, according to the latest BoP data.
An additional 31 inmates have tested positive at the neighboring USP Lompoc facility.
Two inmates have died at the complex due to coronavirus complications, the BOP reported in a press release.
BOP authorities have suspended all visitations to the complex until further notice. Inmate use of telephone and e-mail stations at FCI Lompoc has been suspended through May 18 to "ensure the safety of the inmates and staff while decreasing the spread of the COVID-19 virus," the BoP said.
Background: Across federal and state prisons, thousands of inmates have tested positive for the virus -- many of whom showed no symptoms when they were infected. A federal facility at Terminal Island, San Pedro in Los Angeles County is the second most-infected U.S. penitentiary.
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