The situation on #Rikers has worsened. According to information from city's Board of Correction, 21 inmates, 12 jail employees and five correctional health workers have tested positive for #coronavirus up from a total of eight people the day before:
nytimes.com/2020/03/20/nyr…
nytimes.com/2020/03/20/nyr…
Earlier this week, the chief physician for city jails warned public officials that a "storm is coming" + that the jails needed to be emptied as much as possible to prevent a massive outbreak. This is a 375% increase in #coronavirus cases on #RikersIsland:
nytimes.com/2020/03/20/nyr…
nytimes.com/2020/03/20/nyr…
Public defenders warned that officials needed to act quickly + that the situation on #Rikers is a "ticking time bomb." Prosecutors, courts + @NYCMayor's office have been working to release hundreds of inmates from the city's jails.
nytimes.com/2020/03/20/nyr… #CoronavirusPandemic
nytimes.com/2020/03/20/nyr… #CoronavirusPandemic
If you have a friend or relative on #RikersIsland, or you were recently released from a city jail, or you work at the jails as a correction officer or medial worker I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. See contact info on my profile: #CoronavirusPandemic #Covid_19 #coronavirus
Lastly, shout out to the city's Board of Correction for keeping the public informed about the spike in #coronavirus cases in the city's jails. #RikersIsland + other jails + prisons in NY + elsewhere operate in a blackhole. Simple requests for info are denied, delayed or ignored.
That is the status quo for responses, but given the #CoronavirusPandemic + the potential for it to wreak havoc in the city's jails + state prisons, these institutions (cc: @NYCMayor @NYGovCuomo) should be doing more to keep the public informed.
