Five people were tested for COVID-19 between Tuesday and Thursday at New York City's federal detention facilities, according to court-ordered reports from the wardens of Manhattan's Metropolitan Correctional Center and Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center.

Thursday's report, the latest in a series ordered by U.S. District Chief Judge Roslynn Mauskopf of the Eastern District of New York, indicates that 17 inmates across the two facilities have been tested for COVID-19, and eight have tested positive.

The pace of testing appears to have increased slightly in recent days. Tuesday's report showed that 12 inmates had been tested, the same number as April 3.

Attorneys representing inmates in the two facilities have decried the lack of testing in the MCC and MDC, saying that COVID-19 cases are being severely undercounted.

David Patton, executive director of the Federal Defenders of New York, said Tuesday that he's heard many reports from clients about people showing symptoms inside the facilities, including some who are still being held alongside nonsymptomatic inmates without adequate separation.

The number of staff members with COVID-19 also continues to increase, according to the reports; 21 staff members had tested positive by Thursday, compared to 16 on Tuesday.

In her April 2 administrative order mandating the reports, Mauskopf noted the volume of applications for release related to the coronavirus in her district. Semi-weekly reports would help ensure all the judges and lawyers involved in those cases had consistent and updated information available, she explained. The next report is due Tuesday.

Mauskopf also ordered the privately owned Queens Detention Facility to report on its coronavirus testing and prevention measures. As of Thursday, the facility has tested 30 inmates and received positive results for 16, according to its report.

In their reports April 3 and Tuesday, facility officials included a footnote saying that they had decided to test symptomatic inmates despite advice from New York City Department of Health officials to confine sick inmates and treat their symptoms.

Representatives with the GEO Group, which owns the Queens facility, and the New York City Department of Health both refused this week to describe any conversations they might have had about the coronavirus.

When asked about the health department's guidance to federal detention facilities, a spokesman sent a copy of the department's guidance for "congregate settings," which include homeless shelters and group homes along with detention centers and prisons.

According to that document, people with fever, cough, shortness of breath or sore throat should be assumed to have COVID-19. They should be isolated and treated for symptoms, but "routine outpatient COVID-19 testing is not needed," according to the guidance.

In response to questions Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Prisons said the agency contacts local health authorities to find out whether testing is recommended for symptomatic inmates.

"The Bureau of Prisons does not make a determination regarding testing," she said. The press office did not respond to questions about testing at the MDC and MCC.

At least 287 inmates on Rikers Island have COVID-19, according to the city, which indicates that some testing is ongoing in municipal detention facilities.

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