The coronavirus has crept its way back inside the federal Lompoc prison complex, with officials on Friday reporting 13 active cases among inmates and one among staff. All visitation to the facility has been suspended until further notice.
This spring, the prison was the site of one of the worst penitentiary outbreaks in the country. The virus killed four inmates, infected more than 1,000, and sickened dozens of staff. By summer the crisis had largely subsided, but as new COVID cases surge across the country and here in Santa Barbara County, congregate living facilities are again experiencing high levels of infection.
An investigation over the summer by the Inspector General found that the initial response within the complex, which is operated by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), failed on a number of fronts and likely contributed to the severity of the outbreak, including staffing shortages, inadequate screenings, and a scarcity of protective equipment.