PRISON PANDEMIC UPDATE # 7

Wednesday, April 29, 2020, 11:25 a.m., Tomoka C.I., Daytona Beach, FL

Good morning from the ''Hot Spot.'' There continues to be some confusion as to the confirmed COVID-19 positive tests here, with the numbers close to 89 prisoners and 12 staff. News reports say Tomoka has the most positive tests in Florida, but those numbers most likely will increase over the next few days.

This morning the nurses announced that voluntary virus tests would be offered for some inmates in dorm K-2. They called about 12 names, mostly older inmates, including my name. Yes, I volunteer for the test. The nurse ran a long swab to the back of my nasal passage, uncomfortable, but it lasted only a few moments. Results in a couple days, the nurse said. I feel fine, no symptoms, but I want to know.

Disturbing news reports of great suffering, hardship and deaths from the virus, from all age groups, are sobering for prisoners who are helpless to aid their families. The least we can do is cooperate with those trying to keep us alive, at the risks to their own health.

Previous tests were reserved for prisoners exhibiting symptoms. Federal prisoner testing has found that a large percentage of positive tests were asymptomatic, showing no symptoms. More widespread testing is expected to turn up similar state results. Temperature checks were all negative for my dorm.

We are waiting for lunch now. Meager breakfast, one peanut butter sandwich, a cup of dry cereal, and an apple.

Back when I have more to report.

1:27 p.m. The long-awaited lunch arrived: six small artificial meatballs, pasta with a small serving of tomato sauce, mixed vegetables, dry pinto beans, cornbread, a cookie, and another green orange. Pretty good meal for prison, filling. No one threw it out. Now it is quiet, most of the bedlam and cacophony quieted down with the full bellies. The regular daytime TV watchers are sitting rapt watching soap operas.

Don't think that these meals served at Tomoka are typical of the prison system as a whole. Men transferring in from other prisons rave about the taste and servings of the chow hall food here, compared to the swill served in most other prisons. The Reception and Medical center at Lake Butler was considered the pinnacle of prison chow when I came into the system over forty years ago. A big sign in the chowhall said, ''TAKE WHAT YOU WANT, EAT WHAT YOU TAKE.'' An officer stood by the swill barrel on the way out, and if there was anything edible on your tray, you had to eat it. Only bones and peelings went into the barrel. Each table had a bottle of hot sauce, salt and pepper shakers, and a paper napkin dispenser. Those days are gone.

Now I am waiting for the long queue at the JPAY kiosk to shorten, so I can ''sync'' my tablet, get the daily AP News downloaded. $4.99 a month--a deal.

They moved out everyone in ''K-1,'' the dorm next door. No one knows why. Anything could be in the works. They don't confide in us. It's early in the day--anything could happen-so I will bide my time, see if anything develops.

5:22 p.m. Breaking News--Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is announcing the slow reopening of Florida starting May 4th. ''Protect the vulnerable'' is the first requirement of five, to be implemented. No word on the status of prisons.

All the best, to all.

Charlie

PRISON PANDEMIC UPDATE # 6

Tuesday, April 28, 2020, 4:54 p.m., Tomoka C. I., Daytona Beach, FL

Correction: Sunday, in Update #5, I listed incorrect positive test numbers. It should have been 84 inmates tested positive, not 94. Monday, five more inmates tested positive, resulting in a new total of 89 inmates.

The radio and local TV news programs had brief stories about Tomoka, saying that this prison had the highest virus infection totals in Florida, followed by Blackwater C. I., a private prison in the Panhandle, and Sumter C.I., near Bushnell. Florida has almost 33,000 citizens tested positive, with over 1,100 deaths, but our numbers are much better than several other states. Volusia County, where Daytona Beach is located, listed 445 positives. We don't know whether that includes the 89 prisoners and ten prison staff.

The authorities are doing a good job here, so far, with the nurses conducting temperature checks twice a day, and isolating anyone exhibiting symptoms. They've improved the food, including fresh fruit, which helps with attitudes. The officers have slowed down on enforcing some petty rules, taking life more seriously, realizing that any of us could be struck down by this virus at any time. Most everyone is well-behaved, which helps.

Monday afternoon we finally got outside for ''rec,'' first time in weeks, for an hour-and-a-half. It was beautiful weather, clear, sunny, in the mid-seventies. All we could do was walk around the old north end basketball/tennis court, enjoy the sunshine, and watch a few jets landing at the nearby airport, but that opportunity was much-appreciated.

Still waiting on a book order to be distributed. The lack of reading material is getting crucial. Last week I got a National Geographic ''History'' magazine, which is slowly making its way through the building, from reader to reader.

Libby and I had another disappointing attempt to complete a JPAY ''video visitation,'' Monday evening, on the kiosk. The authorities, in a popular attempt to soothe tensions, offered a free movie this week to everyone with a JPAY tablet. The movie, ''Sharknado,'' didn't win any academy awards, but, as several said, it's free. Those with tablets shared with those less fortunate.

Most in here are maintaining positive attitudes. I pray that this pandemic will burn itself out soon, and spare the world any more misery and fear. Be safe, wear your masks, and maintain social distance.

More later...

Charlie

PRISON PANDEMIC UPDATE # 5

Sunday, April 26, 2020, 8:17 a.m. Tomoka C. I. - Daytona Beach, Florida

Inmates tested positive__94__. Staff tested positive__10__

Life goes on, in prison and out. The TV news has talked about the hundreds of prisoners released from local, state and federal jails and prisons nationwide in response to the virus outbreak. The consensus here is that won't happen in Florida. We're here for the duration. I feel especially connected to those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities where this COVID-19 runs rampant. They are prisoners, too--prisoners of their failing bodies, unable to isolate themselves from this plague which is taking a heavy toll on the sick and elderly, alone, unable to receive visitors. None of us saw this coming. It is a pandemic that affects all of humanity, sounding like the plot of a Stephen King novel.

It's easy to be critical, but I must give the prison officials their due. Pardon the tired cliches, but it's true, they're operating without a playbook or a net. They're doing the best they can under extremely challenging circumstances. At least they're not offering to spray us with Lysol or bleach.

The nurses came through for the morning temperature checks. So far, so good. No one in dorm ''K-2" has shown a high temperature this week. We had one diabetic prisoner who takes insulin, who was moved out, with other high-risk men, to a separate dorm, supposedly, for observation.

They woke us for breakfast at 5:45 a.m. Oatmeal, two boiled eggs, coffee cake, and an apple. Since the widespread complaints about the bag lunches of dry peanut butter, they've greatly improved the food. That is an important control factor--thousands of hungry, angry prisoners is not a scenario anyone wants to deal with. One hot meal a day, with sandwiches the other two meals. Everyone gets an orange, an apple, or a banana. We see those miles-long lines of cars in cities nationwide lining up for food packages to feed their families, and count our blessings.

The authorities authorized two free phone calls per week for each prisoner, to stay in touch with their loved ones, a good thing, but not without its consequences. We have two pay phones for 71 prisoners, most of whom make few if any phone calls each week. The queue has been long.

I was able to talk with my wife, Libby, and my 90-year old mother, Lucille Norman, early today while most other prisoners were sleeping. Libby is fine, though missing our visits, spending her weekends doing yard work and enjoying the songbirds patronizing her bird feeders. She's thrilled that hummingbirds are visiting a new feeder given to her by a coworker.

My mother is fine, so far, sheltering in place in her home in Thonotosassa, seeing only my brother, Dan, who does her grocery shopping, and will pick up KFC to go for Sunday dinner. She's banned the grandchildren from visiting until this is over. Don't kill Grandma!

I get email responses from cousins nationwide, and relay them to my mother. She loves to hear from family, as do I. Most recently I've heard from my Norman/Hatchell cousins Sue, Betty and Jane, in North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia, and my cousin Linda and Aunt Glenda in Texas. My Aunt Alice, in Tampa, fills me in on the rest of the relatives. Everyone is praying for everyone else. It makes a major difference in my own spirits to have family and friends who care. I look around at depressed men who have no one, and thank God I don't carry their burdens.

10:28 a.m. We watched the CBS Sunday Morning show with Jane Pauley, with features about--what else?--the coronavirus. Julie Andrews and her daughter are publishing a new book. Many prisoners are ''news junkies,'' while others have no interest in anything more serious than Jerry Springer refereeing hair-pullings or Maury Povich announcing, ''You ARE the father!''

The TV room has stayed full to capacity. Last night, it was standing room only for ''The Revenant,'' on the Spanish station. It didn't matter that most had no idea what was being said. Grizzly bears and marauding Indians trump dialogue.

11:25 a.m. It is ''chow'' again--turkey bologna and cheese sandwiches. They are also calling for tablets to be charged, so I must bid adieu.

All the best, to all.

Charlie