DUBLIN, Calif – – A group of civil rights activists and lawyers blow up at least three coronavirus outbreaks in Santa Rita prison, blaming overcrowding and inadequate testing for the problem.
The group “Decarcerate Alameda County” will voice their complaints on Monday at 10 a.m. in a press conference about the growing COVID-19 cases.
On December 23, active COVID-19 cases in Santa Rita Prison jumped from 5 to 53 – a 1020% increase overnight, and now, weeks later, the group said the number is up to 76. And these two spikes follow another major coronavirus spike in July.
Santa Rita is not unique. Virus outbreaks are occurring in many prisons and prisons across the state, along with the rest of California and parts of the country.
But the activists want more to be done.
In an October letter to the board of directors, the group, consisting of the Ella Baker Center and the National Laywers Guild, called for a government takeover of the prison, better testing and medical care, and the release of more qualified inmates, among other things.
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office did not respond immediately.
However, amid a lawsuit and federal court order, the Sheriff’s Office hired an advisor to investigate Santa Rita Prison for its coronavirus log. On several visits, the consultant found that MPs and inmates are now largely wearing masks and have improved the virus log in the prison. Even so, he was concerned that a percentage of the inmates refused to be tested.
Also in October, the sheriff formed a COVID compliance department, which the advisor described as a “welcome addition” to the Santa Rita personnel model.
Lisa Fernandez is a reporter at KTVU. Email Lisa at [email protected] or call her at 510-874-0139. Or follow her on Twitter @ljfernandez
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