QUARANTINED FOR 14 DAYS IN A PRISON CELL by Lord Serious

Today is April 24, 2020 and it marks day one of my 14 day quarantine in my cell due to a staff member here potentially introducing COVID-19 into my pod. To be clear, no I HAVE NOT TESTED POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS. And I don't think as of yet, anyone at this facility has tested positive for it. However, the Warden came into the pod and informed us that a staff member at this facility (Lawrenceville Correctional Center) came into contact with a staff member at Deerfield Correctional Center who does have the Coronavirus, and this staff member worked the building I am housed in and another building at this facility for three days. Therefore, as a precaution I am now being quarantined in my cell for 14 days.

I asked the warden what were his plans should an outbreak occur at this facility? He said, "This is it. I'll lock the building down." I told him, "Keeping those who are healthy in the same pod with people who are sick is an ineffective strategy." The warden said, "These are CDC guidelines not DOC or Lawrenceville. So what can I do?" I suggested, "Release those who are in the hole so that you can use the hole to quarantine those who are sick." The Warden replied, "I only have 10 cells back there. Again these are CDC guidelines."

Prior to the Warden entering the pod a correctional officer escorted a nurse door to door and she checked every prisoner's temperature using the forehead thermometer. The warden told us during his speech that they would test us everyday for this 14 day period.

The problem with the temperature test is that many people who carry COVID-19 are asymptomatic. Not to mention those who do display symptoms can go several days before the first symptom is shown. By that time the outbreak could have spread all over the compound.

This quarantine is ineffective and it is not enough in my opinion. Kitchen workers and correctional officers who work this building must still enter the pod to serve us our meals. None of them wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) whenever this is being done. At the most they are wearing gloves and masks. However, none of these have been proven to be adequate enough protection to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

All of this uncertainty was too much of a risk for one of the young Gods and he decided that staying in this pod just wasn't worth the risk. So when his door opened for him to receive his lunch tray, he stepped out with all of his property packed and refused to go back into the cell. This brother only has four months left to serve on his sentence and he would rather be in the hole in solitary confinement before being housed in a pod that has just been declared a potential breeding ground for COVID-19.

He stopped by my cell right before he left. When he informed me of his decision I told him I didn't blame him. Going to the hole to avoid contracting the virus may work for someone who's on their way home. But it's not a viable option for someone like myself, who is in here for the long haul. I don't have the luxury of waiting it out until my release date. I'm staying put for now, I need to be in a position to respond should it ever become necessary to do so.