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Lawsuit seeks widespread virus testing in Michigan prisons

Prison cells photo
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Lawyers are seeking testing for all Michigan prisoners and staff as well as other steps to protect them from the highly contagious coronavirus. A lawsuit was filed Wednesday against the state Corrections Department. At least 41 prisoners have died of complications from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. Michigan has roughly 38,000 prisoners but has tested only 3,100 so far. Forty-five percent tested positive. Besides widespread testing, the lawsuit seeks free disinfectant supplies and soap, personal protection equipment, a 6-foot buffer between prisoners and other remedies. The Corrections Department says it's doing many of those things.