To: The Carceral State Project From: Tyrone Lee Reyes
It was looking as if things were looking brighter, with more and more Covid-19 patients recovering. What these people is hiding from the public, is their incompetency to stop the spread. I recently spoke on units that was all from the rest of the population. But yet, they allowed them to come into Food Service, putting the workers, staff and officers at risk while waiting on test results. The next day some of them tested positive for Covid-19 and the rest were still able to come to chow.
On Tuesday night 6-9-20, they finally came to their senses and correctly quarantined the whole unit. To my knowledge 15 or more has tested positive from that unit, which is now the epicenter of Cotton. When people complained to the administration about allowing this quarantine unit to come into Food Service, their concerns was disregarded, because we’re just prisoners? This fact alone shows that they don’t care about putting our health at risk.
Keep in mind, how are we being infected with the virus here? Prisoners can’t come in and out of the prison, to my knowledge. It’s frustrating to know we don’t matter enough to mandate officers to get tested, so we can figure out ways to properly try and stop the spread. Our opinions does not matter, because we’re just prisoners.
I’ve stated before, I am not confident that I will stay virus free. Everyday they’re doing something to jeopardize my life. They don’t even have an step down unit here at this prison. As soon as a Covid-19 patients has two back to back negative results, they moved them to C-unit, where guys like me lock in that never had it. This is suppose to be their so-called step down unit.
I am glad for the recovery with the help of our wonderful JCF medical staff. They deserve all of the credit and I will pay homage to them every time I speak about this issue. There is also some officers that’s doing a superb job and I appreciate them too. They’re also putting their lives at risk to make sure our brothers recover from this horrible virus. It’s no one’s fault that our lives is uprooted because of this unexpected Coronavirus. But, it is the administration fault that it’s on Cotton level II side and continue to railroad our total recovery effect. Most of us is
doing our part by keeping the units cleaned and bleached. Our administration needs to do their part and keep us safe.
This unit that I have been referring to as our epicenter, is B-unit. It houses 72 people and as of 6/10/20, approx. 36 people became Covid-19 patients. Knowing this fact, the warden and its administration decided once again to allow this unit that remains on quarantine status, to come to Food Service again. Not caring that they could possibly infect the workers too.
Our block representative raised this issue at the Warden’s Forum and in so many words they started that they don’t care. This type of attitude is unacceptable, but they seem not to care. It’s totally frustrating that those in charge of making sure we’re healthy, continue to put our lives at risk. I also reiterate that the officers and staff lives is at risk too.
We need more attention and show people Michigan Department Of Correction real intent during this pandemic. It seems that these people is getting some type of financial kick back for the longer they keep Covid-19 active at this facility. Because there’s nothing I see where they’re trying to seriously stop the spread of this virus. It has also been brought to my attention that a few patients who was positive for Covid-19 and recovered, has tested positive again. I am trying to get clarification of this information. Because if this is true, it shows intent that these people is deliberately trying to infect other prisoners who has tested negative for Covid band negative for the antibody. Proof that they’re operating under some type of agenda to keep spreading this virus.
Where is the real correction in theirs handling of this? I have several medical issues that can be heavily affected, if I was to test positive. There’s cancer patient receiving chemotherapy, that can be fatally to them. But do they care? Our lives hold so little value compared to what they’re somehow getting from somewhere. Yes, this might be somewhat far fetched, but worth considering. I have no factual evidence to collaborate these allegation. It’s just my opinion.
The power of an investigator reporter would be tremendously useful in this matter. Corrupt systems seems to collapse and go haywire when dirty little secrets is being revealed. Please, anybody with any media resources to have them look into this. Or all of my efforts and suffering through harassments and retaliatory tactics, would be for nothing.
