Two weeks ago I told you about a situation amongst staff that potentially threatened the lives of every inmate here. Since then, more and more staff have come up positive for coronavirus.
Toward the middle of last week we had 3 confirmed inmate cases, all had previously been quarantined as a precaution. More staff continued to test positive.
This weekend brought the first community spread inmate case, a second came mid-week, and Thursday brought 5 more positive, sick inmates. Two dorms, approximately 240 inmates have been locked down. They have remained that way as of this writing. It’s likely the number of cases in those dorms is 5-10x higher than the known cases. Frankly, it’s only a matter of time before most of those inmates come up positive, because the inmates in those dorms have been locked inside for days.
Suddenly we’re having our temperatures taken again 3 times a week, whereas it was just once a week for many weeks (which I didn’t understand, because COVID out there has only gotten worse).
A reader recently asked why we don’t have N95 masks now that they are widely available. That’s a good question, and I don’t have an answer for it.
Back in March, we were given inmate made masks sewn from single ply art and craft frabric. They’re barely funtional. I’ve had to literally hand craft my own thicker, double layered cotton mask that actually fits my face. Many of us have. Now that coronavirus is spreading through the facility will we receive better masks?
I wrote this post over a 6 day period in order to post the latest information. No one is telling us what’s actually happening. I’ve had to rely upon avid observation and extensive use of the grapevine. As of this writing, there are 12 known positive inmate cases and a dozen known staff cases. The only question now is: how many of us are going to die in the coming weeks?
—Christopher—
*For a continuing chronology of COVID’s effects at my institution and across the state of Ohio view the following posts: Video Fridays In 60 Seconds #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, #29, #30, #32, #33, #34, #36, and today’s post.
If I didn’t know better, I would say that the Ohio authorities are putting inmates in a human Petri dish to see what results from a combination of their neglect, inefficiency and intentional exposure. But being familiar with the intellect level of most state correctional systems, I would have to say they don’t have the G-2 to think inn an analytical manner.
So, in conclusion I would have to surmise that the authorities are playing a human game of that old ostrich trick …. yup you guess it, their head is in the “sand.” But for these guys I would say … instead of “sand” it is their rectal cranny cavity.