Ten coronavirus deaths reported at Va. prison

RICHMOND — Ten inmates at a Virginia prison that holds many elderly and otherwise vulnerable inmates have died from COVID-19, officials said.

Deerfield Correctional Center, which is located in Capron, has an assisted living unit and infirmary and holds many of the state prison system’s elderly and medically impaired offenders, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Wednesday. Many of the inmates at Deerfield sleep in dormitories, making social distancing difficult if not impossible, the newspaper reported.

Figures posted Tuesday by the Virginia Department of Corrections also showed that 36 staff members at Deerfield also currently are positive for COVID-19. Lisa Kinney, a department spokeswoman, wrote in an email that “some staff have temporarily been moved to Deerfield from other facilities, both security staff and nursing staff.”

With 10 deaths, Deerfield has the most for any facility in Virginia. The rural Southside prison holds 925 inmates.