Two additional Wisconsin prisoners die from COVID-19 as death toll reaches 25

(Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

By Brian Brant

(MADISON, WIS.) A total of 25 prison inmates have died from COVID-19, following two new additional deaths.

The Associated Press reports the additional deaths happened as about half of the roughly 20,000 prisoners have been infected since the pandemic began.

Department of Corrections spokesman John Beard told the AP that inmates who test positive are isolated and those exposed are placed into quarantine.

Transfers to and from the prison have also been suspended.

Thursday's largest outbreak was at Oakhill Correctional Institution in Dane County, which had 205 active infections. More than 60% of the inmates were infected, as well as 13 employees. 

Beard said the Oakhill outbreak began in December. By midmonth, 20 inmates were infected and by Christmas, the number had risen to 172. Currently, 205 are infected.

He said the Wisconsin National Guard first conducted mass testing on Dec. 14, Dec. 28 and Jan. 4 as the outbreak continues to worsen.

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