Seven people who work in Ohio prisons have died from COVID-19 and 1,232 have tested positive for it since Nov. 8, Joshua Norris, executive vice president of Service Employees International Union District 1199, said.

SEIU District 1199 represents health care workers and some of the staff members in Ohio’s prisons.

Norris, citing data provided on the Ohio Department of Health website, stated in a news release 2,932 staff members have tested positive overall.

“Workers with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction are going to work every day,” he said. “Public employees with the state of Ohio have been bravely working on the front lines of this crisis.”

SEIU District 1199 continues to advocate for as many members as possible to be granted work-from-home status, especially given the recent spread of COVID-19. Heightened levels of community spread may result in increased cases in such settings and increase transmission of the virus among staff and others.

The ODH data says 109 inmates have died from the virus. Another eight inmates are listed as probable COVID-19 deaths, and 6,199 have recovered.

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