Our world has been hit with the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic. I am concerned for the staff and inmates of  the Nevada Conservation Camps or any facility that has Dormitory style living. Nevada has 10 minimum security Conservation Camps that house a minimum of 150 inmates. Stewart Conservation Camp located in Carson City Nevada is the largest camp in Nevada holding up to 360 inmates. These camps have up to 5 dormitory type units. I know at Stewart Camp there are up to 72 inmates to a unit. They have each unit split into what they call cubes which 6 inmates are assigned a bunk bed within each cube. The inmates are in very close quarters at all times. When on their bunk the other inmates are arms reach away. Social distancing of 6FT and banning of congregating of 10 or more has been ordered by the United States President as well as by The State of Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak. There is no way for these inmates to abide by the social distancing  or congregating regulations to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Sanitation is also a concern for these inmates and staff. The inmates are not provided hand soap at some of these facilities. All inmates eat in a common area known as the Chow hall. The door to enter the Chow Hall is not sanitized; every inmate must open it to get in. Each inmate then touches the milk and water dispenser without sanitation in between each inmate. The health and safety of these inmates are at risk daily. That is against their civil rights as human beings.The Prison system lacks adequate health and medical care within these facilities. Stewart Camp for example has one health nurse. They lack medical supplies as the entire United States is lacking. The staff nor inmates are provided gloves or masks to protect themselves from COVID-19. Within these Camps they have no way to properly isolate or quarantine these inmates if a breakout happens. These dormitory units are like petri dishes. If COVID-19 breaks out in one of these facilities it will be like a fire in a hay barn. That is a scary thought as my significant other is at one of these Camps. Another thought is all colleges and dorms have been shut down due to COVID-19. So the question is are the teachers and student’s lives more important than the Prison Staff and inmates lives? The answer is No because every life matters.

Lets say COVID-19 hits Stewart Conservation camp and 100 or more inmates get it. Does Carson Tahoe Hospital have enough beds to care for these inmates if being hospitalized is their only chance to survive on top of those in our Community who have COVID-19 and need to be hospitalized in order to survive? What about those in the community who already have health and medical conditions and need medical care as well? If this occurred in our community it would have devastating consequences. The staff of the prisons also have families to go home to everyday after their shift. If COVID-19 hits one of these facilities the lives and health of the staff are at risk as well. The inmates are human beings not just numbers and most of them have families or loved ones waiting for them to return home upon release. Our Governor ordered STAY HOME FOR NEVADA TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19. The big question here is WHAT CAN BE DONE IN NEVADA TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AND TO PROTECT THESE LIVES THAT MATTER?