Coronavirus: 900 inmates were released in New York City due to the pandemic

In times of pandemic, extreme measures have to be taken to prevent the spread of a virus, and this is what is happening in the city of New York, where is released 900 “non-violent” inmates.

In an attempt to control infections in the popular city, Mayor Bill de Blasio made an announcement on Tuesday after infections between guards and prisoners will be confirmed inside the Riker’s Island jail, according to the portal of Vice. This jail is also the best known in the city for its reputation for abuse and neglect of detainees.

Last Monday afternoon, the doctor in charge within the facilities of this jail, Ross MacDonald, used his Twitter account to communicate how the situation looks inside the jail facilities, calling them a public health disaster. .

“Today there are about 200 confirmed cases when only 12 days ago we had the first. In that space of time, we have moved mountains to protect our patients ”, explained the doctor.

This was corroborated by the analysis of an aid group, which explained that the infection rate inside the jail is seven times higher than that of New York City, which is known as the epicenter of infection of all States United.

“This is not a generational public health crisis, but a crisis of a magnitude that no generation living today has ever seen. Our efforts may slow this growth, but as a physician I must tell you that it is unlikely. I can’t reassure you of something you just want to be true, ”added MacDonald.

It has been weeks since humanitarian groups began to draw the attention of the city to remove the most vulnerable prisoners from jail, even before COVID-19 arrived inside any of these facilities.

For its part, The Riker’s Island doctor wrote that he will try to help all the inmates, however he believes that it is a very difficult situation to control, so they will also have to make use of hospitals and their instruments.

“I can assure my patients that I will provide the best possible care, but we expect that 20% of those infected will need our overloaded hospitals and 5% will need ventilators that many other citizens will also need. I cannot presume to tell you how to do your job, but neither should you presume that you are experts in correctional health or corrections. I am raising this alarm for a reason. I simply ask that in this time of crisis the focus remains on liberating as many vulnerable people as possible, ”MacDonald concluded.

The number of released was almost triple the amount announced last Friday (375). The people who were considered for release were seniors or who had illnesses that made them particularly vulnerable to the new coronavirus, as well as people who were detained for non-violent offenses or probation violations.

De Blasio announced last week that although hundreds would be released, those who were convicted of domestic violence would not be eligible to be released.

“It’s a very complicated dynamic, literally, we’ve never dealt with it before. I am listening to all the information […] But I want to make it very clear that I am making the final decisions, taking into account the advice of all these different sources and doing what I think is the right thing to do for this city, ”he added.

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