DeWine Sends National Guard to Elkton Federal Prison

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Gov. Mike DeWine has directed the Ohio National Guard to go into the Federal Correction Institution Elkton in Lisbon to augment medical services after three inmates have died and many of the guards and prisoners are showing symptoms of COVID-19.

DeWine said he authorized 26 guardsmen to Elkton for seven to 10 days until federal assistance can arrive.

“This is a medical mission only and the they [guardsmen] will not be armed and will not provide security,” DeWine said at his daily press briefing.

The guardsmen will be equipped with N95 masks and will augment the prison medical staff to handle all medical needs and triage anyone with symptoms of the COVID-19 disease that has now killed 142 Ohioans.

DeWine said the National Guard will arrive equipped with ambulances to transport patients to hospitals in the event of a surge in cases. No new intakes to the facility have been ordered.

DeWine also announced during his daily press conference today that the Covelli Centre in Youngstown has been selected as a site to expand hospital capacity in the region. This will help to meet the goal of state projections of doubling the capacity of hospital beds and up to double the amount of people needing treatment.

Mahoning County again leads the state in the number of deaths in the state at 17 as of state statistics issued at 2 p.m. today.

Ohio has 4,450 diagnosed cases of COVID-19, with 1,214 people hospitalized and 142 deaths.

PREVIOUS:
April 6, 2020: 3 Dead, 20 Elkton Inmates Hospitalized, Staff ‘Angry

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.