Mitigating COVID-19 transmission in U.S. jails

Project SummaryCongregate settings, such as large urban jails, have been significantly impacted by COVID. While preventionstrategies from hospitals can be implemented, there are unique challenges to preventing transmission withinjails that warrant additional attention. Our primary objective of this supplement is to model infection preventionand mitigations strategies for COVID in a large urban jail. Specifically, we will test strategies that have beenemployed at the jail at (1) admission to the jail, (2) during incarceration, and (3) at discharge to gauge theimpact each strategy has had and to forecast downstream impact of COIVID in jails. We will also examine theimpact of COVID spread in jails on the burden of infection in the community. One major strategy employedacross the country to reduce spread within jails is to encourage release of low-risk, nonviolent offenders.However, the downstream impact in the community of this intervention is unknown and it is critical to examinewhat intermediate steps may be necessary, i.e. a 'step-down' quarantine period. Given the central role the jailis hypothesized to play in propagating the spread of MRSA to high-poverty, inner-city neighborhoods, ourproposal to examine COVID has significant