Kansas says Lansing inmate has coronavirus; 40 officers out for virus-related reasons

A Kansas inmate has tested positive for the coronavirus, one of a growing number of cases at Lansing Correctional Facility, the state’s largest prison.

The Kansas Department of Corrections also said staffing at the prison, which houses more than 1,650 inmates, had been changed because of an increase in absences. About 40 of Lansing’s 310 frontline uniformed officers are out for reasons related to the virus, an agency spokesman said.

The latest case involves a man who is over 50 and is the first apparent instance of COVID-19 within the inmate population.

The Saturday night announcement, from KDOC, comes as inmate advocates and defense attorneys are urging Gov. Laura Kelly to consider releasing certain inmates as some county jails have done.

KDOC also said on Saturday that a fourth staff member at Lansing has contracted the virus. The agency had previously said three staff members had tested positive.

The staff members who have tested positive include a man older than 20 and two women older than 40. The latest worker to test positive is a man over 20. The agency said no other details would be released.

KDOC spokesman Randy Bowman said in an email that roughly 40 frontline officers are currently absent and that the absences are related to the virus. He said that list includes employees who are at-risk due to medical conditions, those caring for children out of school, family members who require care or are under observation, as well as those sick themselves.

Beginning on Saturday afternoon, officials also began restricting inmates to their units and said movement of inmates to jobs and recreation would occur in groups from the same unit. Prison officials took the steps after consulting with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

“The additional steps today illustrate our continued effort to follow all guidelines issued by public health officials,” Corrections Secretary Jeff Zmuda said in a statement. “We appreciate the continued support and guidance of KDHE and Governor Laura Kelly, as we conduct our work in these challenging times.”

KDOC first announced three cases of the virus among prison staff on Tuesday. The same day, representatives of public defenders, criminal defense attorneys and the Midwest Innocence Project sent a joint letter to Kelly asking her to consider releasing certain inmates to protect them from the virus.

“Without prompt and decisive action, our overcapacity prisons and jails will foster the spread of COVID-19, which will overwhelm both correctional and community health care systems, many of which are in smaller towns,” they wrote.

Kelly at a Wednesday news conference said “we are really at the exploratory phase right now on what action we may or may not need to take regarding our corrections facilities.”