Because people in prison don’t have the ability to take action to protect themselves. Because a 3-5 year sentence is not the death penalty. Because there are these things called the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights that require that inmates be treated like humans. Because the alternative is to let about half of CA prison inmates out of prison to reduce the crowding, which may be worse.
Plus, like the magats here have been saying forever, it’s no problem for old or sick people to avoid getting it. They can just stay home until it’s over.