When we reflect on our history, will we be satisfied that we did everything we could have done to protect our vulnerable populations from suffering and death due to COVID-19? Each of us has faced severe challenges during this pandemic, but, as has been true in every crisis, vulnerable populations experience the brunt of the suffering. Images from nursing homes, shuttered businesses and crowded hospitals reveal unimaginable losses from illness and far too many deaths. We know the financial peril and emotional strains that come from the denied pursuit of goals and barred physical connections with loved ones. The same is true for one invisible yet often even more vulnerable group. The lives of Delaware’s nearly 4,500 prisoners have also been significantly negatively impacted. To date, over 2,700 inmates and correctional staff combined have tested positive for the virus and 13 men have died from COVID-19 while in the Delaware Department of Correction’s custody.
