Transcript
8-13-2020 "Phase II" Phase II was partially different and more calmer at the Cummins Unit Prison than Phase I. We as prisoners no longer had to wrestle with officers about what is wrong on their end and what is wrong on our's. Things are still so far out of order that no one on the outside could imagine. Nobody is not safe from the virus entering, working or living in these type of facilities. Just as well as us inmates been testing positive for the Covid-19 virus, so are the correctional officers, sgt's, lt's, capt's and majors who work for a pay check in order to feed their families and provide for their house hold even to keep a roof over they head. So we are all as humans are facing equal pain, rather incarcerated or working to manage responsibilities. Yes the prison is still on emergency lock-down. Many inmates are testing positive everyday and are forced to breath on ventilators due to Covid at its peak in prison. Many inmates are forced to exit home positive after being sauved testing for release on parole from the Board decision. 75% percent of the population is positive with the virus. I was part of the 25% who kept testing negative but was exposed to Covid from other inmates going out the barracks and working in the kitchen to help feed the prison since we was a negative barracks that consisted of about 40 Inmates. Now I tested positive for Coronavirus and was quarantined along with four other inmates and placed in an isolated pod along with 43 other inmates who fourteen days of quarantine restarts every time positive inmates are moved into the barracks. Rumor was said that the kitchen is the hot-spot. Even though its two eating areas provided for this facility. The virus lives on flat surface and stainless steel which makes up 80% of the kitchen area, front dining hall and back area were the inmates cook and serve the food. I feel that if we had the proper food to eat such as lemons, oranges, rather juice or fruit, the population could have been healed quickly instead of having to suffer from A.D.C. prison rules that allows us not to have those type of foods provided from the kitchen or sold on commissary. I feel that our family should have been able to send us I-Cares of food and hygiene items due to the pandemic. Other prisons in other states allow inmates to receive I-Cares from family and friends as long as search is secured through the property and no contraband was found. In Arkansas prison, its a different struggle. You only get whatever the state provides for inmates through out the A.D.C. population. Many grievances have been wrote and filed challenging inmates privileges in Arkansas prisons along with law suits to help extend the win against the administration but no rules were ever changed and many cases went denied due to some type of protocol or justification making this unsanitary environment being considered as safe for criminals as what we are referred as to live in. So far after being diagnosed with Covid-19, I lost my smell, my taste, and my throat became seriously sore followed by tremendous chest pains all with a lasting of 2 weeks so far. My body is slowly but surely recovering back to normal. I drink much pickle juice from pickles I buy from commissary and Hall cough drops to help with my hard cough. Peppermints also help consisted with the cough I received from Covid-19. I thank God everyday I awake to see another sunrise from the Devils Disease. I pray for everyone around the world and hope all are getting proper treatment while contracting and suffering from this virus. Many rumors fill the faith of a vaccine soon to help the mankind of human race. May God keep us all safe around the world, this is how I'm fighting Phase II during the struggle in an Arkansas Prison system. Rufus Poindexter! All love, peace and respect...
