New York City is beginning to release small numbers of inmates from Rikers Island, in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus there.

 The city's district attorneys, the NYPD and the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice are all reviewing cases with a focus on releasing low-level offenders — such as those held on misdemeanor drug charges or on a technical parole violation. They are also prioritizing individuals who are older with underlying health problems.

City officials have not said how many could potentially be released because of the public health crisis. So far, they've identified some — several dozen, out of about 5,000 people. At least one inmate and a guard on Rikers have tested positive for COVID-19.