Santa Clara inmates start hunger strike in wake of largest COVID outbreak Bay City News Service FacebookTwitterEmail Pedestrians walk past the Santa Clara County Jail in San Jose, California.Karl Mondon (/San Jose Mercury News via AP) / / By Jana Kadah Bay City News Foundation Inmates in Santa Clara County's main jail went on a hunger strike this week to protest the jail's largest COVID-19 outbreak since the pandemic's start in March. On Wednesday afternoon, the sheriff's office reported 109 new COVID-19 cases. That same night, the hunger strike began in the main jail's 7B wing to protest unsanitary living conditions and lack of policy that prisoners believe have led to the outbreaks.