FILE PHOTO: Detainees are seen at Otay Mesa immigration detention center in San Diego
(Photo : Reuters)

According to the authorities the largest municipal jail, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is now releasing some inmates who are prone and are vulnerable in acquiring the novel coronavirus. 

The officials at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque have identified the inmates who meet the general health guidelines for risks in acquiring the coronavirus. There are 46 of those who will remain in jail in custody because they face violent charges and they cannot be considered eligible for release. 

The detention center Chief, Ralph Enriquez said in a statement that they have already emptied two living pods and they have four negative pressure rooms in the jail to be used for quarantine so therefore there is no need to release the inmates that were found to be charged with violent crimes. 

Other inmates were being transferred into the communities' custody programs as the district attorney's office and the public defenders worked with the jail and the local judges to bring down the lock up's overall population. There is good news that no inmates or the jail staff were tested positive.

In order to further reduce the state's jail population and avoid transmission from person to person, the detention center officials are compiling sheets and separating them from the non-violent misdemeanour and the non-violent felony offenders who are not at risk of COVID-19 who could be released in the future. Any inmate that is going to be released whether the conditions are based on the community custody program or to be released early will have to go first to the judge who will set the conditions in order for the inmates to be released.

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Beginning next week, the jail officials reported that all the court proceedings involving the inmates and the staff will be held through video only. 

On Wednesday, the health officials reported that at least 136 state wide are now infected and got positive results with the coronavirus test. They also confirmed the first case of death because of the virus. 

It is also announced by the State Publication Department that the announcement regarding the extension of the school's closure period is expected by Friday. Also, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has first announced the school's suspension on March 13, 2020 reporting that it would be effective until April 3 and it may possibly be extended longer on conditions. 

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham also added that she formally requested on Thursday that the United States' Defense Department had established a staffed 248 bed U.S army combat support hospital in the state of Albuquerque as a preventive action to boost the state's treatment capacity. 

The public defender's office in Santa Fe County was closed on Tuesday after one of the attorneys were tested positive in the infectious disease coronavirus. It is also added that Santa Fe's jail already suspended visitors for the inmates, and the district court had switched proceedings of inmates through telephone. 

On Thursday, New Mexico's Supreme Court temporarily postponed orders for the people who are unable to pay for their monthly mobile home lot because of the corona virus crisis. It is also applicable for the same protections against the people who are losing house during the pandemic. The public health emergency also provided the tenants apartments so they can temporarily have shelters and places for residence.