Current Events in April 2020

Jowett Farms of Blumenort, Canada, is recalling approximately 42,587 pounds of raw pork trimmings.

The products were not presented for import re-inspection into the U.S.

There are no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following items, imported on April 2, 2020, and further processed into sausage products, are being recalled:

• 20-oz. plastic wrapped tray packages containing sausage links of “Jewel-Osco Sheboygan Brand Bratwurst – Made in Illinois” with a sell-by date of 4/17/20.
• 20-oz. plastic wrapped tray packages containing sausage links of “Jewel-Osco Mild Italian Sausage” with a sell-by date of 4/17/20.
• 20-oz. plastic wrapped tray packages containing sausage links of “Jewel-Osco Hot Italian Sausage” with a sell-by date of 4/17/20.

The recalled products, bearing establishment number “EST. 7779” inside the USDA mark of inspection were shipped to retail locations in Illinois and Wisconsin.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but discard them.

Consumers with questions may contact Jowett Farms Corporation, at (204) 326-3252.

General Motors is recalling 897 model year 2019-2020 Chevrolet Bolt EVs.

The door-handle cable inside the rear doors may be too long, allowing contact with the window when it is opened, possibly damaging the cable.

A damaged cable may cause the rear door to open unintentionally when the rear window is opened.

Additionally, it may cause the rear inside door handle to not work.

If the rear door opens while the vehicle is being driven, or the door handle fails to open the rear door, there is an increased risk of injury to the rear passengers.

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear inside door-handle cables free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin May 11, 2020.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A202298320.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 610,774 (584,073)

Total U.S. deaths: 26,119 (23,709)

Total global cases: 2,006.513 (1,945,055)

Total global deaths: 128,886 (123,348)

Deaths spike

After several days of leveling off, the U.S. recorded its largest single-day death toll in the last 24 hours from the coronavirus (COVID-19). The Johns Hopkins University count, featured above, shows deaths increased by over 2,400.

Despite that, U.S. health officials still believe conditions are improving. Appearing on NBC’s Today Show this morning, Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAD) said he believes the U.S. is turning the corner. "There's no doubt what we've seen over the last several days is a flattening out," he said.

Scams tied to COVID-19 stimulus checks are surging 

Billions of dollars in government stimulus checks hit consumers’ bank accounts today, and that’s certainly getting the attention of scammers. Hiya, a company offering a call-screening app, warns that scams tied to these direct payments have spiked in recent days, rising 844 percent between March 16 and March 23.

Hiya found the most popular scam asks for a user’s bank info, claiming it is needed for direct deposit of the stimulus check. The government does not ask for this information.

The second most popular scam requests additional personal information, like a Social Security number or account details to deposit the check that day. The government already has everyone’s Social Security number.

Other scams on the rise include fake companies or government agencies offering loan forgiveness or loan advances if the individual forfeits their stimulus check, and fake government agencies claiming an individual's Social Security number is no longer active or valid. 

Health care workers testing positive

Medical personnel treating COVID-19 patients wear special protective gear to protect them from the virus, but that didn’t happen much in the early days. The Washington Post reports that the first known spread of the disease to health care workers occurred in mid-February in Solano County, Calif. when three hospital workers caught the coronavirus from a patient.

An analysis released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week shows that about 9,000 health care workers have tested positive for the virus since April 9. Most were not sick enough to require a hospital stay, but 27 of them died.

Restaurant rebound

While restaurants have been hammered by social distancing requirements, an industry group suggests the worst could be over. Foodmarket cites data from the NPD group showing a 41 percent decline in restaurant translation in the first week of April, on the heels of a 42 percent drop in the preceding week.

“The 41 percent decline in restaurant transactions is similar to last week and may indicate a bottom,” David Portalatin, NPD food industry advisor told Foodmarket. “We also need to be aware that further erosion could occur if consumers’ economic situations worsen.” 

Foodmarket concludes that the apparent bottoming is probably due to the industry’s pivot to off-premise dining, emphasizing carryout and delivery options.

Ford ramps up protective equipment production

Ford has expanded its manufacturing of protective gear for health care personnel and first responders. Teaming with Wayne State University, the Wayne State University Physician Group, and ACCESS, the company is launching a new initiative aimed at improving access to COVID-19 testing for symptomatic first responders, health care workers, and corrections officers in Michigan.

Ford is providing vehicles, drivers, and equipment to help create the first mobile testing service in the state, which has been hard hit by the virus.

Around the nation

• Florida: The state has become one of the nation’s hotspots for the coronavirus. The state health department today announced 20 deaths overnight as the number of confirmed cases rose past 22,000. 

• Illinois: The Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission has taken action to support workers who are deemed “essential.” Its emergency measure presumes that any essential worker who contracts COVID-19 got it while on the job, making them eligible for workman’s comp.

• Ohio: With NFL franchises in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio’s economy has a lot riding on professional football resuming in the fall. But Gov. Mike DeWine is not ready to predict a timely kickoff. “I don’t know where we’re going to be, and I don’t think anybody really knows,” DeWine told 850 ESPN Cleveland.

After announcing plans to work with GE Health to produce ventilators and other equipment for hospital ICU wards, Ford says it is now expanding efforts to support the medical community during the COVID-19 crisis. It’s part of a national push by the automotive industry to switch to making vital health-related products that are now in short supply.

The automaker, which has shut down vehicle production during the coronavirus (COVID-19), began production of an air-purifying respirator product this week. The company is also producing face masks and shields while scaling production of reusable gowns for health care workers. 

It even has one foot in the diagnostic world, providing manufacturing support for scientific instrument provider Thermo Fisher Scientific to ramp up production of COVID-19 collection kits to test for the virus.

“We knew that to play our part helping combat coronavirus, we had to go like hell and join forces with experts like 3M to expand production of urgently needed medical equipment and supplies,” said Jim Baumbick, vice president, Ford Enterprise Product Line Management.

Baumbick said the company has achieved a steady rise in the output of all types of personal protection equipment (PPE) to protect health workers and first responders from the virus.

100,000 respirators projected

The respirators are being produced at Ford’s Vreeland facility near Flat Rock, Mich., by paid members of the United Auto Workers union (UAW). At scale, the plant is expected to produce at least 100,000 units.

Ford’s Van Dyke Transmission plant is producing face masks, which continue to be in short supply. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that all U.S. residents wear a mask in public to curb the spread of the virus, cutting into supplies needed for health care workers.

In addition to manufacturers like Ford, fashion designers like Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Chanel are gearing production to designing and producing face masks. Some are also producing gowns and gloves, which are also in short supply.

3M is partnering with Cummins to increase the output of particulate filters to go into 3M’s powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR). Cummins is transitioning its workers at its Neillsville, Wisc., plant from making diesel engine filters to manufacturing them for PAPRs.

There is likely to be an increasing need for N95 masks until the pandemic subsides. In March, Dr. Robert Kadlec, assistant secretary for preparedness and response, told a Senate committee that in the event of a severe outbreak -- which the U.S. is now facing -- the country would need around 3.5 billion respirator masks. At the time, the U.S. had approximately 42 million.

In a joint appeal, Kroger and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), America's largest food and retail union, are asking federal and state governments to immediately designate associates at grocery stores as "extended first responders" or "emergency personnel." 

Both the grocery chain and the union say the workers are on the front lines of sustaining the country’s food supply in the face of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

Being designated emergency personnel would put grocery workers on the same footing as health care workers, police, and firefighters, and it would give them the same priority access to masks, gloves, and other protective gear.

‘Significant daily risk’

Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen and UFCW International President Marc Perrone released a joint statement saying that grocery workers report to work each day and play a critical role in keeping consumers supplied with food and essentials.

"Given the significant daily risk these workers face, we are calling on all of our federal and state leaders to take immediate action,” the statement said. “Specifically, we are requesting our nation's leaders to assign a temporary designation of first responder or emergency personnel status for all grocery workers. Make no mistake, this designation is absolutely critical as it will ensure these frontline workers have priority access to personal protection equipment like masks and gloves.”

The appeal comes amid growing concerns about the nation’s food supply chain -- from producing products on farms to processing those products and moving them to retail stores. Farmers have also said they need more protection, as have the nation’s independent truck drivers.

Earlier this month, the Owner-Operator Independent Truck Drivers Association appealed to the White House for help for its members. In a letter to the president, CEO Todd Spencer said his members are exposed to COVID-19 every day because of their jobs.

“They don’t have access to personal protection equipment or any practical means to know when they may be falling ill or any practical solution if they need treatment or self-isolation,” Spencer wrote. “Access to testing must be available where they are, particularly on busy truck routes. And testing must show results in hours, not days.”

Without help, Spencer warned that many drivers might park their trucks when word spreads that more of them are testing positive. That, he warns, could threaten the nation’s vital food supply chain.

Huge pork plant remains closed

Smithfield CEO Ken Sullivan expressed a similar concern after the governor of South Dakota ordered the company’s largest pork processing plant to remain closed. The governor issued the order after 200 employees tested positive for the coronavirus.

“We have a stark choice as a nation: we are either going to produce food or not, even in the face of COVID-19,” Sullivan said in a statement. “It is impossible to keep our grocery stores stocked if our plants are not running.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says there is no evidence that the coronavirus is transmitted through food, and most scientists agree. Donald Schaffner, a professor of food microbiology at Rutgers University, told The Hill that the biggest risk concerning food is that it won’t make its way to supermarket shelves. 

Showing off your senior class photo with its beehive hairdo or mullet might be a funny throwback for your Facebook friends, but the Better Business Bureau says you might want to keep those to yourself.

The organization sent out a warning that scammers and hackers who surf through social media sites and lay eyes on all the #ClassOf2020 posts are having a field day. Not only do they have the name of your high school and the year you graduated, but with a little effort, they can apply those identification references to find even more about you -- family members, your real name, birthdate, and even where you live.

The BBB cautions everyone to be aware of what they are sharing. Facebook users tend to be laissez-faire with their privacy settings, and even if you think that what you’re posting is only going to your friends, it might wind up on someone else’s screen, too. Facebook found that out the hard way when their “10-year Challenge” idea blew up in the platform’s face.

Tips to keep you safe on social media

The BBB put together a simple list of things anyone who uses social media should take to heart, especially as hackers and scammers are trying out new tricks during the pandemic.

Resist the temptation to play along. While it’s fun to see other’s posts, if you are uncomfortable participating, it is best not to do it.

Review your security settings. Check your security settings on all social media platforms to see what you are sharing and with whom. Facebook has a section of its website devoted to this that is worth checking out if data privacy is an issue.

Change security questions/settings. If you are nervous that something you shared could open you up to fraud, the BBB recommends reviewing and changing your security settings for various accounts. That includes your banking information or information at any other website where you might use or input your personal data when accessing the site’s content or buying something. 

Without a formal unveiling event, Apple announced on Wednesday that it’s launching a new, more affordable iPhone. 

The second-generation iPhone SE looks practically identical to the 2017 iPhone 8, but it’s set to cost $399 compared to its predecessor’s $449 starting price. The new device also features a suite of new features, including a more powerful processor and screen enhancements.

In an announcement, Apple called the new device its “most affordable” yet and outlined several features consumers can expect to find. 

“The new iPhone SE is powered by the Apple-designed A13 Bionic, the fastest chip in a smartphone, to handle the most demanding tasks,” the company said. “iPhone SE also features the best single-camera system ever in an iPhone, which unlocks the benefits of computational photography including Portrait mode, and is designed to withstand the elements with dust and water resistance.” 

Camera upgrades

Apple’s A13 processor helps the new iPhone SE take “amazing photos with Smart HDR, stunning portraits with Portrait mode including all six Portrait Lighting effects,” Apple said. “And with QuickTake, users can easily transition to video recording without switching out of Photos mode.” 

Features carried over from the iPhone 8 include wireless charging, a physical home button with Touch ID instead of facial recognition, and IP67 water and dust resistance. 

The $399 base model comes with 64 GB of storage; the mid-level model comes with 128 GB of storage and costs $449, and the top tier model comes with 256 GB of storage and costs $549. Consumers who purchase the new device are also eligible for a free year of Apple TV+.

“The first iPhone SE was a hit with many customers who loved its unique combination of small size, high-end performance and affordable price; the new second-generation iPhone SE builds on that great idea and improves on it in every way,” Phil Schiller, Apple’s vice president for worldwide marketing, said in a release.

Online pre-orders for the new device will begin on Friday, and consumers can receive them as early as April 24. The new phone is available in black, white, and red color schemes.

There’s not a 12-Step program for airlines, but the largest carriers in the U.S. are starting to admit that they’re powerless when it comes to the devastation inflicted by COVID-19 and that doing business has become unmanageable. 

On Tuesday, several domestic airlines announced that they reached agreements with the Treasury Department for billions in government grant money to help offset the misfortune they’ve endured from the pandemic.

Then, on Wednesday, Delta Air Lines stepped up with yet another round of changes to both its system and passengers that will be extended through June 2020.

Policy changes

Waived changed fees: Delta is waiving change fees through May 31, 2022 to customers with canceled flights through June 2020.

There are two stipulations, however. Eligible customers include those who have:

• Upcoming travel already booked in April, May or June 2020, as of April 14, 2020 

• Existing eCredits or canceled travel from flights in March, April, May or June 2020

Capped fares: Delta has capped fares for travel throughout the U.S. and Canada through May 31 in all classes.

Social distancing during travel: Mirroring what the world is doing on the ground, Delta is making sure that when travelers are up in the air, they’ll encounter:

• Fewer passengers per flight

• Blocked middle seats

Modifying the boarding process where passengers will board by row from the rear of the plane forward

Free flights to medical volunteers traveling to hard-hit U.S. areas

As a compassionate gesture, Delta is also giving eligible medical volunteers free round-trip flights to Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, and New York through the end of June.

The details, eligibility requirements, and reservations are being left up to those states and are good through the end of April 2020.

Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus, some U.S. education institutions may not re-open for in-person classes until 2021. 

In an online statement, Boston University (BU) said it’s already cancelled all “in-person summer activities” on its main campus and is considering the possibility of extending its remote learning strategies. 

"The Recovery Plan recognizes that if, in the unlikely event that public health officials deem it unsafe to open in the fall of 2020, then the University's contingency plan envisions the need to consider a later in-person return, perhaps in January 2021," the school said. 

However, Jean Morrison, the provost and chief academic officer at BU, told NBC10 Boston said the university is “focusing our planning on a fall return to campus.” 

Facing uncertainty 

Harvard’s President, Lawrence S. Bacow, said in an interview last week that the school is considering "lots of different scenarios" for the fall semester. Decisions are currently up in the air due to the unknowns of the coronavirus.  

Universities including Oregon State and the University of Arizona are also hoping to welcome students back for in-person classes in the fall, but uncertainty remains. 

"Only the novel coronavirus will determine what happens,” Oregon State University spokesman Steve Clark told The Oregonian. “We can hope for a full return in fall 2020, but hope is not a strategy. So that is why we are going to prepare as best we can for every possible contingency."

A University of Arizona spokesperson said recently that the school is “cautiously optimistic” that it will be able to resume business as usual in the fall. 

"We are cautiously optimistic that the fall semester will be able to launch with the normal face-to-face campus experience, but of course we will prioritize the health and well-being of our community in making that decision," the spokesperson told the Arizona Daily Star. 

Amid a plunge in demand for air travel, several airlines announced on Tuesday that they reached agreements with the Treasury Department for billions in government grants to help mitigate the impact of virus-prevention measures.

Measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 have included urging consumers to stay home, grounding planes, and asking employees to take voluntary unpaid leave. Airlines -- including American, Delta, United, Southwest, Spirit, JetBlue, Alaska -- applied to receive a cut of $25 billion in payroll grants established under the CARES Act in an effort to keep pilots, flight attendants, and other airline employees on payrolls through September.

In a statement, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that several carriers would be receiving federal assistance from the Payroll Support Program.

“We welcome the news that a number of major airlines intend to participate in the Payroll Support Program,” he said. “This is an important CARES Act program that will support American workers and help preserve the strategic importance of the airline industry while allowing for appropriate compensation to the taxpayers.” 

Airlines receiving aid

Officials from American Airlines said this week that the Treasury Department approved $5.8 billion in assistance. 

“By accepting these funds, we have happily agreed to not involuntarily furlough or reduce the hourly pay rates of our U.S.-based team members through Sept. 30, at which point we hope and expect that Americans are regularly flying again,” American’s CEO, Doug Parker, and the airline’s president, Robert Isom, wrote in a memo to employees.

Southwest said it expects to receive $3.2 billion under the program, more than $2.3 billion in payroll support, and a 10-year low-interest loan of nearly $1 billion. Delta said its deal with the Treasury Department will yield a $5.4 billion loan, which will include a 10-year, $1.6 billion, unsecured-loan. JetBlue said it will get $935.8 million. Of that figure, close to $251 million will come in the form of a loan.

“We welcome the news that a number of major airlines intend to participate in the Payroll Support Program,” the Treasury Department said in a statement. “This is an important CARES Act program that will support American workers and help preserve the strategic importance of the airline industry while allowing for appropriate compensation to the taxpayers.”

Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, called the coronavirus relief deal “unprecedented.” 

“This is an unprecedented accomplishment—a truly workers-first stimulus that keeps people connected to their jobs and provides stability and hope to millions of aviation workers and sets a template we must now work to extend to every worker,” she said.

Mnuchin said the Department will work to “finalize the necessary agreements and disburse funds as quickly as possible.”

With many consumers turning to opioids to help deal with chronic pain, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Queensland made an interesting new discovery that could reduce the need for such drugs. 

Though it may seem unconventional, the researchers discovered that molecules from tarantula venom could be a way to help consumers manage their chronic pain with little to no side effects. This could serve as a viable option for consumers to steer clear of opioids and their related side effects. 

“Although opioids are effective in producing pain relief, they come with unwanted side-effects like nausea, constipation, and the risk of addiction, placing a huge burden on society,” said researcher Dr. Christina Schroeder. “Our study found that a mini-protein in tarantula venom from the Chinese bird spider, known as Huwentoxin-IV, binds to pain receptors in the body.” 

Managing pain relief

The researchers began this project in an effort to help consumers manage their chronic pain while also doing their part to help cut down on the number of opioid prescriptions. They used the Chinese bird spiders’ venom to create a drug that would help target consumers’ most problematic pain areas. 

The first step was to test the new drug on mice and assess how the spider venom affected their pain levels; they also evaluated any negative reactions that developed. Ultimately, the researchers learned that the drug was effective in both reducing pain and eliminating side effects. 

“By using a three-pronged approach in our drug design that incorporates the mini-protein, its receptor and the surrounding membrane from the spider venom, we’ve altered this mini-protein resulting in greater potency and specificity for specific pain,” Dr. Schroeder explained. “This ensures that just the right amount of the mini-protein attaches itself to the receptor and the cell membrane surrounding the pain receptors.” 

Because of these successful early findings, the researchers hope that this experiment can continue to progress and that consumers can one day be on the receiving end of these results. Developing a drug with the spider venom could help consumers steer clear of the risks associated with opioids while also managing chronic pain. 

“Our findings could potentially lead to an alternative method of treating pain without the side-effects and reduce many individuals’ reliance on opioids for pain relief,” said Dr. Schroeder. 

BMW of North America is recalling 8,536 model year 2013-2016 328d xDrive sedans and model year 2013-2015 328d xDrive station wagons.

The constant-velocity joint which transfers power between the transfer case and the rear drive shaft, may become damaged, possibly resulting in loss of power to the rear wheels.

A loss of power to the rear wheels can affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Additionally, when the vehicle is parked after a loss of power to the rear wheels and the parking brake is not engaged, unintended rollaway can occur, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

What to do

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the constant-velocity joint and inspect the transfer case, replacing it -- if necessary -- free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin May 18, 2020.

Owners may contact BMW customer service at (800) 525-7417.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 584,073 (558,526)

Total U.S. deaths: 23,709 (22,146)

Total global cases: 1,945055 (1,872,073)

Total global deaths: 123,348 (116,052)

Light at the end of the tunnel 

While it’s true that the U.S. has more coronavirus (COVID-19) cases than any other nation, the rate of infection is slowing. That’s leading many states to start considering when to get back to normal.

Governors in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Rhode Island -- many of which share borders -- have announced a coordinated plan to open things back up. They plan to create an organization of public health, economic, and government officials to develop a plan to be followed in all seven states.

On the West Coast, California, Washington, and Oregon have formed a “Western States Pact,” agreeing that they would reopen their economies at the same time, but only when it appears safe to do so.

An app to help you file for unemployment

Millions of people have lost their jobs in the last month because of the coronavirus, and state unemployment offices have been swamped. But an app -- DoNotPay, which is described as a “robot lawyer” -- has incorporated a feature to help the newly unemployed cut the red tape.

One California user told CNBC that the app reminded him to file an unemployment claim. He used the app’s chatbot feature to complete and submit his claim. 

DoNotPay charges a $3 per month subscription fee and uses chatbots to offer services like disputing parking tickets, getting reimbursed by companies, and skipping the line for customer service.

Hard-to-get mortgages

Mortgage rates are near all-time lows, but getting a loan suddenly isn’t that easy, and industry insiders are blaming the coronavirus pandemic. A survey by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) shows that credit availability to purchase or refinance a home fell last month to the lowest point in five years.

The reason? There simply isn’t as much money available to make loans. In particular, investors have backed away from financing what are known as jumbo mortgages -- loans of more than $510,400.

MBA also says lenders are more choosey in this environment, making fewer loans to consumers with lower credit scores. JPMorgan Chase has tightened its underwriting guidelines by requiring a minimum FICO score of 700 and a 20 percent down payment.

New kind of happy hour

SLING TV is a subscription TV service that charges a monthly fee to access its programming, but families staying home to practice social distancing will be rewarded with free TV starting today. The promotion -- Happy Hour Across America -- allows people to register and watch the service at no charge from 5 p.m. until midnight.

"Since we can't serve you a beverage or basket of hot wings, we're introducing a new kind of happy hour – TV 'on the house' every night," said Warren Schlichting, group president, SLING TV. 

As the COVID-19 crisis has unfolded, SLING says viewing climbed by triple digits in the last 30 days, increasing 164 percent. 

Free clinics adopting telemedicine

The coronavirus has pushed telemedicine to the forefront, with many private practices adopting it to interact with patients. In North Carolina, the state’s free and charitable clinics have also deployed the technology to continue treating the uninsured while keeping staff and patients safe -- ultimately keeping thousands of patients out of hospital emergency departments.

It’s no small matter, since an estimated 1.3 million people in the state lack health insurance. To preserve their access to care, 60 of North Carolina's 67 free and charitable medical clinics are still open, largely because they’re using telemedicine to interact with patients.

"We feel a responsibility to keep our patients out of the state's hospital emergency rooms during this pandemic, and it was through sheer determination – and bravery – that our member clinics have managed to keep their doors open," said April Cook, board chair of the North Carolina Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NCAFCC).

Around the nation

• Virginia: A rehabilitation center in suburban Richmond has become the nation’s largest hotspot for coronavirus cases. At least 127 of the 167 residents of Canterbury Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Henrico County have tested positive for the coronavirus and at least 42 have died. 

• Nebraska: The University of Nebraska’s annual spring football game has been canceled, but the school will stream a virtual game for fans. The video game will include current and former players and be streamed on the school’s social media pages.

• Maryland: An inmate at the Jessup Correctional Institution has become the first person in the state’s prison system to die of the coronavirus. The prison has 33 cases among inmates and staff.