Carson City's Warm Springs Correctional Center 'unaware' of claims trainees did not wear masks that led to COVID lockdown of 2 units
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Tue, 09/01/2020 - 4:57pm
A recent outbreak of COVID-19 at Warm Springs Correctional Center in Carson City put two units on lockdown with two inmates having alleged the outbreak came from correctional officer trainees who were not wearing proper personal protective equipment, also known as PPE.
According to the inmates, who reached out via family members, the CO trainees were conducting inmate pat downs and cell searches without masks or gloves, which they believe caused the spread of the virus within their unit.
One inmate also alleged that on Aug. 27, after the outbreak had occurred that resulted in two units being placed on lockdown and multiple inmates being placed in isolation, that prison personnel were serving food to inmates without wearing masks or gloves.
According to Monica Chiazza, Assistant to Deputy Director Bill Quenga, three offenders at Warm Springs tested positive for COVID-19 and have since returned negative results.
“The offenders were tested as part of routine testing, and all other offenders at the institution tested negative,” said Chiazza. “Offenders who tested positive were transported to the Regional Medical Facility at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center for isolation. They were re-tested at NNCC, and those results came back negative. Second test results are pending.”
The offenders who were transferred to NNCC will remain in isolation for 10 days, and offenders who shared a unit with those who tested positive have been placed on “restricted movement.”
Chiazza also stated that “All staff members at Warm Springs were tested for Covid-19, and all have tested negative.”
However, when asked specifically about the trainees who were allegedly patting down inmates without proper PPE, Chiazza said that there was a trainee who tested positive. They were found to be positive for COVID-19 during the bi-weekly testing of all staff and was asymptomatic at the time the test results came back.
Chiazza said that trainees frequently come to Warm Springs for training, as it is less stressful than other area correctional facilities.
She said that they were unaware of any trainees not wearing masks and patting down inmates.
“The two units, which housed the inmates who tested positive, are on quarantine,” said Chiazza. “The inmates in those two units are not allowed to leave their unit, and all services are either being canceled or brought to them. Feeding is being done in-house. Inmates in the remaining housing units are limited on their activity. They are able to eat in the chow hall but only with their assigned unit. All inmates are required to wear their mask if they leave their assigned cell.”
Chiazza said that staff members are having their temperatures taken and are being screened by a nurse prior to entering the institution at the beginning of their shift.
“The screening consists of being asked if they have any of the signs or symptoms associated with COVID,” said Chiazza. “If the employee is running a fever or is exhibiting any of the symptoms, the shift commander is notified and the employee is denied entry into the institution.”
