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State of Ohio begins coronavirus testing for all inmates at 3 facilities

The testing is taking place at Franklin Medical Center, Pickaway Correctional Institution, and Marion Correctional Institution

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction on Sunday said it has started testing all incarcerated individuals at three facilities for the coronavirus.

In a statement sent to 10TV, ODRC said the testing is taking place at Franklin Medical Center, Pickaway Correctional Institution, and Marion Correctional Institution and began this weekend.

"The Franklin Medical Center and Pickaway Correctional Institution house a number of individuals who have existing medical conditions, and the Marion Correctional Institution is currently seeing the highest number of positive testing results among the population," the statement read.

The testing is due to "the nature of the populations and current circumstances," according to ODRC.

ODRC also told 10TV that Marion Correctional Institution is preparing other areas of the facility to serve as housing units in the event more health care staffing is needed to care for affected inmates.

Earlier in the month the agency confirmed the first positive case with an inmate at Marion Correctional Institution. Last week, Gov. Mike DeWine announced a corrections officer at the facility died from the coronavirus.

As of Sunday, positive cases included 5 inmates and 11 staff members at Franklin Medical Center, 17 inmates and 55 staff members at Marion Correctional Institution, and 38 inmates and 20 staff members at Pickaway Correctional Institution.

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