US prison employee preparing for executions tests positive for coronavirus
A staff member involved in the preparation of the first executions of US federal prisoners in 17 years has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Bureau of Prisons said on Sunday.
In a court filing, the bureau said the employee based at the Justice Department's execution chamber in Terre Haute, Indiana, attended a meeting with outside law enforcement in preparation for the scheduled executions and another meeting on how to handle any demonstrators.
He did not come into contact with members of the execution protocol team, the bureau said.
The news comes two days after a US federal judge blocked the first execution, due to be carried out on Monday, after some of the victims' relatives sued, saying they feared that attending could expose them to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus.
Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson ordered the Justice Department to delay the execution of Daniel Lewis Lee until it could show it was upholding the right of victims' relatives to attend without risking their health. The Justice Department said it would appeal.
Another prison employee had previously tested positive for the virus, and has since recovered.
Lee's scheduled death by lethal injection is one of four executions that had been scheduled for July and August. All four men had been convicted of killing children.
Wesley Purkey's execution was scheduled for Wednesday, but a federal appeals court issued a temporary stay this month and it was not clear whether it would proceed. Dustin Honken's is set for Friday.
Source: Reuters
US campus protests: Over 100 imams, scholars declare solidarity with students
US paramedic involved in death of Black man avoids prison
US campus crackdown: 500 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested
UK forces may be deployed in Gaza under guise of aid delivery: Report
VIDEO | Afghan population endures impact of stringent US sanctions
VIDEO | Pro-Palestinian protesters march on US, Israeli embassies in Seoul
Lebanon’s Hezbollah launches drone, missile attacks against Israel
VIDEO | Gaza: Global fightback
Pro-Palestine student demos intensify, expand to universities across US, Europe
Iraqi PM urges intl. community to stop unjust Israeli war on Gaza
Iran says defense, military cooperation with India promotes regional security
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
