COVID-19 CASES REACH NEW ONE DAY RECORD OF 355 INFECTIONS
Death Toll Rises to 40
News Release from Hawaii COVID-19 Joint Information Center, Aug 13, 2020
(Honolulu) – Two O‘ahu men, both over 60-years-old are the latest victims of COVID-19. And today, DOH reports at least 86 new diagnosed cases of coronavirus are part of an existing cluster at the O‘ahu Community Correctional Facility (OCCC). Health investigators say at least 116 cases are attributable to OCCC, with 24 staff and 92 inmates having tested positive for COVID-19. The 86 cases are part of the 355 newly diagnosed cases today; the record single day case count since the beginning of the pandemic.
(SOLUTION: Guards report that criminals are actively working to spread the disease in jail in hope of being released -- see article below. The key to stopping this is to refuse to release any COVID-positive inmates. Segregate them in the nastiest facility in the entire jail system as punishment for purposefully spreading COVID.)
The State and City & County of Honolulu are working with the Institute for Human Services (IHS) Sumner Men’s Shelter in Iwilei to isolate and quarantine individuals at the shelter, with 20 cases under investigation. The DOH is also continuing its epidemiological investigation into a cluster of cases at Honolulu Hale, which now totals 11 individuals, who may have been infected during gatherings at offices during breaks or social get-togethers, according to employees who have been interviewed.
“With the virus actively being spread throughout the community on O‘ahu, congregate settings like prisons and institutions are at increased risk of introduction and should prepare as the Dept. of Public Safety and IHS have done,” Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson said. “These agencies were ready and stepped into action quickly, working with the DOH on control and prevention measures to protect those at risk and the community. We extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the latest people to succumb to this disease.”
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Guards; Universal Testing Needed at OCCC
KITV: … The officer, who wished to remain anonymous, is one of seven OCCC staff members who have tested positive for the virus so far. According to the officer, that includes one man who is now currently in the hospital. …
On Wednesday, the Department of Public Safety announced seven more inmates at OCCC tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of inmates with the virus there to 16.
"We don't get the hazard pay, so a lot of guys are coming to work and catching this virus then spreading it to their families," he explained. "There are some of us that have to come to work just because this is our only income. This is the way we make a living." …
"There's no such thing as social distancing. They don't wear masks either. It's like pulling teeth to get them to wear masks," an officer described of inmates. "They're pretty much only two-feet away from each other. In a cell, it's like a module. You can have three to a cell and it's all AC so, it's impossible."
(Translation: The criminals are trying to get COVID because the ACLU told them it is a ‘get out of jail free’ card.)
The guards also say there's a Module 19, or a quarantine unit for new inmates, before entering general population.
"In the seclusion module, Module 19, where they should be in single cells to help with the social distancing, we're totally going against the grain," one guard explained. "I mean we're already overpopulated, and to just get these guys in and housed, that was forcing guys that were doing the 14-day quarantine to be way shy of that. I've heard of guys leaving after eight, nine days at least. That just makes me feel uncomfortable."
Both guards agree that their decision to talk, stems from a desperate need for change, beginning with universal testing at OCCC.
(Solution: Offer guards an experimental vaccine currently in Stage 3 human trials.)
(Another solution: Form a unit of personnel who have antibodies and use them to replace guards until a vaccine is available.)
read … OCCC corrections officers plead for change as COVID-19 outbreak grows
KITV: OCCC outbreak (pleases) civil rights group; Public Defender calls for inmate early-releases again
KHON: As OCCC cluster soars, Office of the Public Defender requests inmates be … uh … released
KITV: WCCC adult corrections officer says their COVID-19 concerns are being ignored
KITV: Wife of first corrections officer to contract COVID-19 is heartbroken and angry
KITV: DOH investigating homeless shelter cluster