Eleven weeks have passed since COVID-19 became a part of America’s daily lives, and changes are being made daily to combat the disease. Social distancing, face masks, wiping down personal areas, hand washing constantly, etc. are new tools in our battles against the virus.
The Oakdale Prison has been battling the COVID-19 virus from within its walls. Ronald Morris, President of Local 1007, a union representative for employees, has asked for tools like N95 respirators and other PPE (personal protection equipment). Morris and other reps for employees began letter and phone campaigns to leaders in the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and to our national congressional leaders seeking help. Morris said he even went to the warden for assistance.
On Friday, May 22, Warden Rod Myers was removed from the warden position in Oakdale by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
Morris had recently asked the warden on May 21, to consider testing at the FCI II facility. “We have asked for a sample testing of 50 inmates and you refused to agree to that.” In Morris’ letter, he also was seeking safety PPE equipment for the staff.
“We believe this is the best course of action to help insure the safety of the staff and inmates. We also are requesting all staff be reissued N95 masks, gloves, gowns and goggles until testing is complete. Health services managers are in agreeance with Local 1007 that asymptomatic inmates can still spread the Covid-19 virus. Please inform Local 1007 at your earliest convenience.”
Morris said he also sent a letter to Juan Baltazar asking for N95 respirators. He also notified OSHA of the safety issues existing in the prison.
Over the last few weeks, the ACLU of Louisiana (American Civil Liberties Union) has joined in the battle to bring awareness to what is going on inside the prison in relation to COVID-19.
The Oakdale prison has three buildings which house approximately 2,000 inmates. As of Saturday, 223 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19; 820 inmates are in quarantine. Morris said 140 are in isolation, and 40 staff members have tested positive for the virus. Four inmates are in the hospital, and there have been eight deaths at the prison.
Morris said those numbers attribute for about 90 percent of the numbers reported in Allen Parish which has 182 positive cases and 10 deaths totaled at this time.
Morris said they believe N95 respirators are not too much since they are issued when employees bring inmates to hospitals or dealing with inmates in isolation. He believes it is a safety violation when these inmates are allowed to exist in living quarters, sleeping quarters and shower areas among staff members and other inmates. By not taking action, he believes the virus may begin spreading quickly once again despite the fact they are trying to identify prisoners and separate them.
In fact Morris and his group did get news from Baltazar when he answered Morris’ letter suggesting the “issuance of N95 respirators to all staff members for general purpose wear throughout the day was not being recommended.”
Baltazar explained, “These guidelines were coming from their medical professionals and are outlined in the CDC’s guidelines for recommended PPE for incarcerated/detained persons and staff in a correctional facility during the COVID-19 response.”
Morris said they will continue pushing forward to obtain the equipment they believe they need to do their jobs and to stay safe. They don’t want to carry the virus or bring it home to their families.
The paper did attempt to contact Baltazar and other supervisors at the BOP state and national levels unsuccessfully.
