ISCC QUARANTINE OF UNIT F IS A FARCE AND A DANGER TO PRISONERS AND STAFF ALIKE
Unit F (aka F Block), tier 3 at the ISCC has been locked down for more than 2 weeks, with much of that time under quarantine status - or so they tell us - so why is it that prisoners from other units/facilities are being moved into cells on F3, breaking the so-called quarantine? Worse yet, why are prisoners who live on non-quarantined tiers being allowed access to those cells, and why are quarantined prisoners allowed to work in food service?
On Wednesday, July 9, 2020, 4 prisoners were moved onto F3 from either another unit, or from another facility. The very fact that these prisoners were moved into a quarantined area negates the status of quarantine, for if these prisoners were in fact infectious, they are capable of infecting others. If they were not infectious, they are subject to infections from others on the tier. In either case, staff are now telling F3 prisoners that the 2 week quarantine clock has now restarted because of the introduction of these prisoners onto the tier.
In addition to breaking quarantine by introducing/housing new prisoners, non-quarantined prisoners from F2 are still allowed to perform maintenance work (without gloves, inside cells) on F3, where quarantined prisoners are housed. When asked why the inmate maintenance workers are allowed on a quarantined tier (as well as perform other such "essential" jobs as mowing the grass), F3 case manager Robles stated as a matter of fact, those prisoners are not on quarantine status - they're just on lockdown. Apparently locked down doesn't mean what it used to.
Although it has been verified by at least 2 corrections officers and a case manager as late as 1900 hours on Friday July 10, 2020 that F3 is still on quarantine status, at least one prisoner on tier 3 is allowed to go to work - in of all places - food service. This prisoner, within the past week, changed cell partners, and it is rumored that his former cell partner has tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 48 hours. This prisoner leaves the unit, travels to the kitchen, prepares food and food trays in close proximity to other inmate workers from other units then returns to F3 hours later, takes a shower, gets kiosk privileges, and eventually locks in - every day. Quarantine just doesn't mean what it used to either.
To make the problem even more dangerous, the staff Cohorting process described by IDOC Director Tewalt in his 7/2/20 email where specific staff will work each quarantined unit exclusively (barring emergencies), has not been implemented. Staff from E Block (where the first prisoner was diagnosed with COVID-19), and even H Block (where the highest risk prisoners are being housed) have rotated through F Block like corn through a goose, only to go back to their regular posts, sometimes on the same day, without going home to shower or change uniforms. Even if these staff are not infected with the coronavirus, the fact they cannot follow the most minimal guidelines laid out for quarantine must be addressed because even the regular influenza virus, or indeed a common cold can leave prisoners who have been forced to lay in bed for weeks without exercise, recreation or fresh air susceptible to weakened immune systems.
When will prisoners in F Block be able to leave their cells for more than 15 minutes every 3 days where we can use a kiosk, clean the cell, take a shower (the choice is ours, but 15 minutes is the limit, no matter what we choose)? When will we be able to take advantage of the video calls (free means nothing when you cannot access the kiosk). Nobody seems to know, but with the practices at the ISCC and the inability to maintain a quarantine, it may be a very long time.
Maybe the better questions are, how many staff will take the bugs home to their family, and how many people inside prison and out, will die for the failure to maintain a viable quarantine?
On Wednesday, July 9, 2020, 4 prisoners were moved onto F3 from either another unit, or from another facility. The very fact that these prisoners were moved into a quarantined area negates the status of quarantine, for if these prisoners were in fact infectious, they are capable of infecting others. If they were not infectious, they are subject to infections from others on the tier. In either case, staff are now telling F3 prisoners that the 2 week quarantine clock has now restarted because of the introduction of these prisoners onto the tier.
In addition to breaking quarantine by introducing/housing new prisoners, non-quarantined prisoners from F2 are still allowed to perform maintenance work (without gloves, inside cells) on F3, where quarantined prisoners are housed. When asked why the inmate maintenance workers are allowed on a quarantined tier (as well as perform other such "essential" jobs as mowing the grass), F3 case manager Robles stated as a matter of fact, those prisoners are not on quarantine status - they're just on lockdown. Apparently locked down doesn't mean what it used to.
Although it has been verified by at least 2 corrections officers and a case manager as late as 1900 hours on Friday July 10, 2020 that F3 is still on quarantine status, at least one prisoner on tier 3 is allowed to go to work - in of all places - food service. This prisoner, within the past week, changed cell partners, and it is rumored that his former cell partner has tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 48 hours. This prisoner leaves the unit, travels to the kitchen, prepares food and food trays in close proximity to other inmate workers from other units then returns to F3 hours later, takes a shower, gets kiosk privileges, and eventually locks in - every day. Quarantine just doesn't mean what it used to either.
To make the problem even more dangerous, the staff Cohorting process described by IDOC Director Tewalt in his 7/2/20 email where specific staff will work each quarantined unit exclusively (barring emergencies), has not been implemented. Staff from E Block (where the first prisoner was diagnosed with COVID-19), and even H Block (where the highest risk prisoners are being housed) have rotated through F Block like corn through a goose, only to go back to their regular posts, sometimes on the same day, without going home to shower or change uniforms. Even if these staff are not infected with the coronavirus, the fact they cannot follow the most minimal guidelines laid out for quarantine must be addressed because even the regular influenza virus, or indeed a common cold can leave prisoners who have been forced to lay in bed for weeks without exercise, recreation or fresh air susceptible to weakened immune systems.
When will prisoners in F Block be able to leave their cells for more than 15 minutes every 3 days where we can use a kiosk, clean the cell, take a shower (the choice is ours, but 15 minutes is the limit, no matter what we choose)? When will we be able to take advantage of the video calls (free means nothing when you cannot access the kiosk). Nobody seems to know, but with the practices at the ISCC and the inability to maintain a quarantine, it may be a very long time.
Maybe the better questions are, how many staff will take the bugs home to their family, and how many people inside prison and out, will die for the failure to maintain a viable quarantine?