Coronavirus Cases More Than Double Overnight At Essex County Jail

Christine Willmsen
April 9, 2020
WBUR

The number of coronavirus cases at the Essex County jail more than doubled overnight, after advocates and inmates complained the sheriff hasn’t done enough to stop the spread of virus.

Thursday, the Essex County Sheriff’s Department reported 13 inmates, three guards and one contractor have tested positive for the coronavirus. On Wednesday, the total was eight.

“It’s just a human petri dish,” said inmate Daniel Mahoney, 35, of Quincy, in an interview with WBUR. He’s awaiting trial and detained in a dormitory room with 30 other men at the Essex jail.