COLUMBUS, Ohio —Over the weekend, 1,900 people tested positive at the Marion Correctional Institute — which means 78 percent of inmates are now infected. 

Sixty-two miles to the south at the Pickaway Correctional Institution, 1163 people are infected, with seven deaths.

“The reason you’re seeing this spike is because we are massively testing now,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

DeWine says the increase is due to diligent testing.

But for Taniya Singleton, whose diabetic husband is locked up on a parole violation, conditions are the problem.

“He’s been in there since February 25th, and three days ago, he reached out to me. He was like, we just did our testing for coronavirus, he said he doesn’t have it. But they moved three people that’s positive for coronavirus in his dorm. They’re sleeping like 200 people on bunk beds in the same room,” said Singleton.

DeWine says it was a predictable problem.

“Prisons, by their nature, congregate living. Anytime you have congregate living, whether its a nursing home, whether its a prison, once COVID-19 gets in the door, it spreads, and it spreads very significantly,” DeWine said.

As cases and fatalities multiply behind bars, low-level non-violent offenders could be staring down a possible unintended death sentence.

“We’re trying to do this very thoughtfully, at the same time, at the same time, we’re doing everything to keep the prisoners and the guards safe. But as Dr. Acton said, prisons present a very difficult situation,” said DeWine.

DeWine says he’s asking the prison director to continue to look at additional prisoner cases who would be eligible for early commutation.

But for Singleton,, her husband serving time now feels like a ticking time bomb.