Two prisoners at Lompoc penitentiary completed their sentences on Wednesday, but because they tested positive for COVID-19, they still had to complete a two-week quarantine. They only had two days left and were housed off prison grounds, but one decided to head for Los Angeles County, the county’s assistant CEO Barney Melekian told reporters at Friday’s tri-weekly pandemic press conference.
Melekian said the federal prison remained the biggest challenge for the county, and in this instance, the prison had no recourse but to release the men, who’d served their time. Los Angeles County’s public health department was contacted about the patient, who showed no symptoms of the virus. “We are working to address further releases with more advance notice,” Melekian concluded.
Congregate living situations like the prison also include settings like senior-care homes. Of the 14 skilled nursing facilities in the county, said county health’s Paige Batson, two had incidents. These involved two to five staff members or residents, she said, and one person had died.