County expresses concern over spike
-June 5,2020-
Avenal State Prison added about 200 new cases of COVID-19 in the past few days jumping from over 640 June 1 to around 870 June 4. That figure includes 29 staff at the remote prison just west of 1-5 on the outskirts of Avenal.The total also includes 37 cases where the inmate was released or the infection was resolved.
The prison houses 4200 all-male inmates and about 1200 staff.
The increases means Avenal is the most infected state prison in California.The rise in cases has been dramatic with zero cases reported May 17.
The inmate population is said to be 143% of design capacity. In the past the prison had been described as the “most overcrowded prison in the state “in a 2007 news report. In 2016 a state report says this prison housed 3200 inmates.
With the large number of staff working at the institution, concerns have been raised about the spread of the infection to local communities. Total Kings County cases since the outbreak are 556 by the latest count, not including state prison numbers.
Kings County reports a spike in new cases in the county in the past few days after new cases declined for the past few weeks of May. (See chart)
Some resistance
Kings County Supervisor Doug Verboon says he has been trying to work with the prison to implement what he calls ”basic policies” to protect the inmates, staff and general public but has been met with “some resistance.”
“We did not know they even had problem before 40 people were infected” showing the virus was already spreading by the third week of May.
Verboon says County did furnish 4000 test kits to the prison at their request.
Verboon has been reaching out for help from government representatives including Senator Feinstein, local congressmen and state representatives looking to encourage state cooperation with the county.
He says “right now we are working on a plan that could house infected victims using beds to be set up on site or in Fresno “to isolate infected victims to preclude further spread.”
Verboon says they are also reaching out to union officials to encourage cooperation as well.
The veteran supervisor adds that “we are really scared” of the problem of infected staff members who come and go from the prison every day traveling to local towns.
In a letter to the state, Verboon asked that prison staff be tested every 7 days and should get 2 negative tests in a row before they are considered not infected.