A public defender got a judge-ordered tour of a massive pre-trial federal jail in the heart of NYC: “Begging for medical care. Hearing others beg for care. Either no one coming or staff saying they’re fine. Even when they are not able to breathe.” https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-defense-attorney-letter-brooklyn-federal-jail-20200424-mqa744wwzveuhpsq7gkmwf42xu-story.html

“Staff was wearing surgical masks, only saw a couple with N-95s. Lots of staff with no gloves. No N-95s for either staff or incarcerated people on the medical isolation unit, even when people with COVID-19 are brought out of their cells.”

“When Von Dornum and the others arrived at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal Bureau of Prisons staffer wearing no gloves or mask greeted them in the lobby.”

The Bureau of Prisons claims only 12 at the 1700 person jail have been tested for COVID-19, and 6 have confirmed cases. But the numbers are disputed. “Used to cover up a bigger outbreak at the facility, where testing has been incredibly limited. 26 staffers have tested positive.”

Consistent across the country—Jails/prisons are:

Suppressing COVID numbers.

Blocking/limiting visits & communication.

“Quarantine” really means solitary.

Ignoring requests for medical need.

No/few masks, sanitizer, other basic precautions.

No ability to social distance.