A small protest was held outside the Maui Community Correctional Center in Wailuku on Friday to provide protection for inmates from COVID-19, where an outbreak of the virus was first reported four weeks ago.
The cluster at the Maui Community Correctional Center was updated Friday and includes 75 inmates who tested positive (43 are active and 32 have recovered). The Department of Public Safety reports that, according to the latest report, there are 44 people in medical isolation and 211 people in quarantine.
To date, 722 tests have been conducted at MCCC, of which 643 were returned as negative and four were inconclusive.
State officials say an MCCC employee also reported a positive result on independent tests.
The department reports that COVID-19 testing is ongoing statewide at all facilities and that all other Hawai’i prisoner populations are free of the virus.
Organizers say the protest included the participation of concerned community members and loved ones of inmates who “demand immediate enhanced protection to prevent further spread of COVID19”.
The requirements set include: the provision of “adequate” medical care; ensuring that COVID-19 positive inmates are not mixed with suspected cases; enforcing the wearing of a mask on prisoners; provide new masks for inmates every day or two cloth masks per inmate so they can wash and reuse them; and quarantine those exposed to COVID-19 in a different location from the confirmed cases. The group also seeks certainty that the correct distance within the sleeping quarters is observed.
- (A full list of requirements is available by scrolling to the bottom of this article).
County officials said the health ministry follows standard protocol of contact tracing and quarantine isolation.
Toni Schwartz, a spokesman for the State Department of Public Safety, responded to Maui Now’s request for comment, saying:
“The Department of Public Safety is aware of the concerns raised by the families, which is why the security and medical staff at the Maui Community Correctional Center work long hours to protect staff and inmates and prevent the spread of viruses. limit. “
She went on to say, “The facility’s health personnel monitor inmates for symptoms, measure temperature, and perform health checks at least twice a day. All offenders have also been told that if they have pain or symptoms of an upper respiratory disease, they should report it immediately to medical staff. If it is outside office hours, the facility will call an on-call physician for a consultation. Because of COVID-19, no prisoners need hospitalization. “
Last week, Mayor Michael Victorino had received confirmation from the Director of Hawai’i Health that the Department of Health would initiate a second round of vaccinations at the correctional facility.
State officials say that inmates who test positive or negative will be placed in designated housing units within the facility and segregated as determined by medical personnel, as recommended by the DOH, and in accordance with the PSD Pandemic Response Plan.
“The facilities follow the PSD Pandemic Plan to medically isolate, quarantine and cohort inmates based on the guidelines recommended by the CDC and DOH,” said Schwartz, who outlined the following precautions:
- All offenders received at least two cloth masks upon entry and are obliged to wear them.
- Violators also have the option to purchase masks through the Commissioner if they prefer different brands or styles.
- All inmates and staff are required to follow all safety and hygiene protocols, including wearing a barrier mask over their noses and mouths in inmates’ housing and common areas, washing hands regularly and maintaining adequate social distance as far as possible .
- All offenders have unlimited access to hot water, soap and sanitation.
“The PSD Health Care Division has gone to great lengths to ensure that there is a comprehensive plan to protect the health of all inmates and personnel in our facilities. They developed a comprehensive pandemic response plan across all facilities, based on current CDC guidelines and approved by the American Correctional Association’s Office of Correctional Health, ”Schwartz said in a statement.
According to Schwartz, “Each facility has adapted the plan to the facility’s individual needs. Each facility has situations that they encounter that are unique to their facility, and the administration of those facilities takes that into account as they execute their plans to the best of their ability. “
The full list of requirements as drawn up by the demonstration organizers is included below:
- Immediate medical isolation of confirmed or suspected COVID19 cases with appropriate medical attention; sick COVID + inmates do not receive adequate medical care.
- Quarantine all newly admitted individuals and those who have had close contacts with COVID19. Immediately stop mixing COVID + inmates with suspected cases and the general population NOW.
- Staff must wear masks at all times and enforce prisoners wearing masks.
- Personnel should be tested and medically screened regularly before entering shifts.
- Every day new masks for inmates or two cloth masks / prisoner so they can wash / reuse. Correct PPE (gloves & n95 masks) for laundry personnel according to the correct mask cleaning protocol.
- MCCC must adhere to CDC guidelines which include: “Confirmed cases should be housed in a well-ventilated area with solid walls and a solid door that closes completely and separately from suspected cases”; and Those exposed to COVID-19 should be quarantined separately from confirmed cases
- MCC must follow Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission cohort requirements, which include: bunk beds must be at least six feet apart, double bunk beds have only one occupant; and consideration of medical isolation and quarantine of cases with a higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 (i.e. the elderly, schizophrenics, etc.)
- Accountability – Victorio must allocate funds to bring the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission into MCCC to ensure they follow state and CDC protocol.
- Transparency – rapid exchange of accurate data on MCCC covid infections.