Report: 96 Percent of Nearly 3,300 Inmates in Four State Prisons Were Asymptomatic

A report shows approximately 96% of roughly 3,300 inmates in four different states have tested positive for the coronavirus but are asymptomatic.

On Monday, Reuters released a report on coronavirus statistics comprised of test results from prisoners at prison systems in four different states — Arkansas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia.

Health officials were surprised to see the results. The study began at Marion Correctional Institution in Ohio where a total of 2,028 inmates out of 2,300 tested positive for the virus.

Despite many of the inmates being classified as older in age with at pre-existing conditions, approximately 95% of those inmates showed no symptoms of the virus.

Annette Chambers-Smith — the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction director overseeing 28 correctional facilities — shared her reaction to the test results saying, “It was very surprising.”

As coronavirus testing has continued to expand, additional states have been included in the stats. The four states included in the test study, it found that 96% of 3,277 inmates who tested positive had no symptoms of the illness.

The latest findings have shed light on another issue that may prove to be very problematic in combating the spread of the coronavirus as states prepare to reopen.

Due to limited testing capacity, Americans were encouraged to seek testing only if they displayed symptoms. However, people without symptoms could be the driving force behind the spread of the virus.

During an interview with the publication, Dr. Leana Wen — an adjunct associate emergency medicine professor at George Washington University — expressed concern about the “severe undercount” in coronavirus cases due to asymptomatic carriers.

“It adds to the understanding that we have a severe undercount of cases in the U.S.,” Wen said. “The case count is likely much, much higher than we currently know because of the lack of testing and surveillance.”

As testing continues to expand, asymptomatic test centers are beginning to open but are still limited in most states.