Inmates seen on video attempting to spread coronavirus, sheriff says

NEW YORK - The LA County Sheriff’s Department has released videos showing inmates sharing water bottles and a face mask as part of what it has described as the “dangerous plot” of inmates deliberately trying to catch COVID-19.

The footage was taken at the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic, California. One section is dated April 26.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said 21 inmates from the same module shown in the footage tested positive for coronavirus within one week of the videos being taken.

“It’s sad to think that someone would deliberately try to expose themselves to COVID-19,” he said.

The LA County Sheriff’s Department has released videos showing inmates sharing water bottles and a face mask as part of what it has described as the “dangerous plot” of inmates deliberately trying to catch COVID-19.

“Right after this video was taken, the nurse came up to take temperatures and with the hot water they were trying to falsely elevate their temperature readings to generate a symptom for COVID-19,” Villanueva says in the video.

“A gross misunderstanding among the inmate population led many to believe that those diagnosed with COVID-19 may be released, which is untrue,” the department said in a statement.

“Multiple men were seen sipping from a single bottle of hot water for two reasons: to falsely elevate their oral temperature moments before having their temperature taken by a nurse, and to spread the potential of infection,” they said.

According to police, as of May 12, 4,590 inmates were quarantined within the Los Angeles County jail system and a total of 222 prisoners had tested positive since the outbreak began.

Eighteen of those were released from custody after testing positive.