While there have been some positive signs, Montgomery County officials warn that instances where thorough testing is showing a widespread, symptomless spread is complicating visions of reopening, writes Laura Benshoff for the WHYY.

The county recently tested all the incarcerated people and staff at Montgomery County Correctional Facility. Out of the 939 inmates, 740 have received results showing that 169 tested positive. Additionally, 24 staff members and contractors also tested positive.

The results show just how widespread the silent transition has become and that more testing is required for prisons, nursing homes, and other places where people congregate.

“We’ve been checking temperatures in the correctional facility twice a day now for weeks,” said Montgomery County commission chair Val Arkoosh. “These are not people with symptoms.”

Currently, 400 people are in hospitals around the county for COVID-19, with 100 of them on ventilators. Also around 15 percent of those tested at public testing sites are showing positive.

So far the county has had 220 confirmed COVID-19-related deaths and 69 more deaths that are suspected to be related to the pandemic.

Read more about the issue at the WHYY by clicking here.