Inmates sue over county’s handling of COVID-19

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — More than a dozen current and former inmates have sued Multnomah County over its handling of COVID-19. In federal court documents filed this week, the inmates allege they contracted the virus at the county’s Inverness Jail because they were denied proper testing and treatment. The complaint also says the county knowingly put infected guards and inmates with those who were not infected, further spreading the disease. The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, which staffs the jail, says in a statement it doesn’t comment on pending litigation. The lawsuit says on Feb. 17, more than 37% of inmates tested positive for COVID-19.