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| Friend, Although the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises we all take precautions such as social distancing and improved hygiene to protect ourselves from COVID-19, that’s impossible for people who are incarcerated or detained. As a devastating result, COVID-19 outbreaks are rapidly escalating within jails, prisons, and immigration detention centers. People behind bars, including many for drug offenses, have already tragically died. The CDC must act now to prevent more fatalities. Join us in calling on the CDC to include the release of people from prison and jails in its COVID-19 guidelines to slow the spread and save lives. We know that people who are incarcerated are especially vulnerable during this crisis. Yet, the CDC has failed to adequately address the need to decarcerate and release people to combat COVID-19 in our communities.  That’s why DPA is leading a vast coalition of hundreds of public health organizations and professionals urging the CDC to adopt guidance to help protect people behind bars from COVID-19. People who are incarcerated or detained are at increased risk of contracting, spreading, and dying from the virus. And to make things even worse, they often can’t access adequate healthcare should they become infected and need treatment. It’s time for the CDC to fully recognize this very significant public health threat. They must include decarceration and expanded healthcare access for incarcerated and recently released individuals in their guidance to federal, state and local officials to slow the spread and protect those most at-risk. Time is running out: tell the CDC to support the release of people behind bars and ensure access to their healthcare to fight against COVID-19. Neglecting to quickly reduce the population of people who are incarcerated is essentially handing hundreds of thousands of people a death sentence. The CDC has a duty to protect everyone from COVID-19 – let’s make sure that includes people behind bars.
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