Mayor Forced To Release 40 Inmates From City Custody Due To Coronavirus

(IBexNews) - The city has identified 40 inmates who will be moved out of city custody to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, Mayor de Blasio said at a press conference on Thursday.

Hizzoner said the individuals — who were selected based on their medical history and low risk to public safety — will be released as soon as Thursday.

“At this point, this is an ongoing effort, it will keep growing as we review more cases,” de Blasio said. “Those cases are being reviewed by the NYPD and the mayor’s office of criminal justice.”

“As they reach agreement on an individual case, we start the process to release them," he said.

The mayor said the city is waiting on the district attorneys to sign-off on the releases.

“We intend to begin releases as early as today once we have that sign off, (and) we will continue reviewing other cases," he said.

One inmate who tested positive for COVID-19 this week was moved to isolation in the Rikers Contagious Disease Unit, de Blasio said.

Eight other inmates who also had flu-like symptoms have also been moved into the unit, he said.