Trial To Determine If Enough Was Done To Prevent COVID In South Jersey Jail

You and I had the ability to control how much of a stand we took against the COVID-19 pandemic. For one, we could mask-up, maintain a safe distance between ourselves and others, and not put ourselves in positions in which we could risk potential exposure.

What about nursing home residents, rehab facilities, or inmates that don't really have control over protocols set in place that could prevent them from the spread of COVID-19? Another question is what are they supposed to do if not enough was done to prevent it?

That's what a group of inmates from the Cumberland County Jail are currently claiming in a trial that kicked off this week. According to NJ.com, inmates filed a lawsuit that claimed they were living in inadequate conditions that did nothing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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This isn't an issue solely affecting the jails in New Jersey, either. Apparently, inadequate housing of inmates is common all over the country due to many facilities not able to implement sufficient social distancing protocols due to dense populations.

COVID-19 has been a serious problem at Cumberland County Jail with at least two, an inmate and a corrections officer, dying as a result. Also, NJ.com reports that plenty of inmates have tested positive for the virus over the course of the last year.

The lawsuit claims that inmates weren't given sufficient PPE nor social distancing measures along with not having adequate cleaning products readily available to be used to prevent the spread of the virus. Employees in a number of positions at the jail claim, however, that the recommendations of healthcare professionals were all adhered to.

Multiple inmates are expected to testify this week.

Source: NJ.com