Inmate says HMP unprepared, fears COVID-19 spread after fellow prisoner tests positive
CBC
An inmate at Her Majesty's Penitentiary says tension is building inside his unit after he said one man tested positive for COVID-19.
"I'm in a grungy, dirty, tension-filled unit," said Richard Driscoll, by phone from his prison unit late Tuesday evening.
"We are isolated, alone, and scared."
Driscoll, who acts as the 4B unit representative, said the concerns of inmates are not being considered as the province confirms it is dealing with its first outbreak at the corrections facility in St. John's.
"I'm sure the prison staff have been anticipating the possible outbreak inside the prison, but now that it's here, it's like everybody's shocked," said Driscoll.
"It's like we've been caught unexpectedly, like a tidal wave, but it's something that should have been well prepared for, or had an action plan, but they are caught flat-footed."
The Department of Justice and Public Safety said earlier Tuesday that four inmates in the same unit had tested positive for the virus as of Tuesday afternoon. Driscoll said there is just one confirmed case on his unit.
The department said corrections staff will continue to work with Eastern Health to manage the situation, and personal protective equipment is being provided and worn.
Driscoll said inmates had asked that the COVID-positive inmate be removed from the unit but he said instead the man is being kept in his cell away from others.
"We have an inmate on the range with COVID and the only thing separating him from us is a door, a big metal steel door but there's an inch gap under his door."
"Eastern Health said we can rotate you and it's safe. We don't agree, we are very stressed out."
Driscoll said correctional officers have directed inmates to follow a rotation between three groups which would allow them out of their cell for about four hours at a time.
He said it appears the correctional officers are also stressed.
While this is the first outbreak in Her Majesty's Penitentiary, it is not the only Newfoundland and Labrador jail to get hit by the virus.