In Georgia, prisoners at the Ware State Prison used smuggled cellphones to live-stream a prison uprising last weekend demanding improved health measures amid an outbreak of COVID-19. One video, filmed on a contraband cellphone, shows two men lying on the floor of a prison cell, covered in blood and bandages, as other prisoners plead for help. In another video, a prisoner describes being locked in a cell 24/7 with limited drinking water, terrible food, no electricity and no sanitation. 

Prisoner: “Toilet’s not flushing. Sink is not working. They have cut the power off. They have cut everything off. We ain’t took no shower since last Tuesday. It’s been a week. The reason we riot, the reason why the riot popped, is because of health issues.”

Georgia prison officials said two prison staffers and three prisoners were injured in the uprising. Dozens of prisoners and employees at Ware State Prison have tested positive for COVID-19, and two prisoners have died of the disease.

Meanwhile, in California, officials at San Quentin State Prison say a 22nd prisoner has died from COVID-19.