By Larkin White
Confirmed COVID-19 Cases and Outcomes
As of July 11, there are two active COVID-19 cases in Santa Rita Jail (SRJ) in Alameda County. There have been a total of 69 cases so far, but no deaths.
COVID-19 in Santa Rita Jail
After a week of relatively stable numbers in the beginning of July, four new cases were reported and two of them were subsequently released.
Although only there are only two reported active cases at the moment, accounts of people currently or formerly incarcerated at Santa Rita Jail cast doubt on the accuracy of this count.
Several claim that those who experience symptoms choose not to take a test so they can avoid the subsequent isolation.
The jail population has been separated into four pools for medical reasons, but the pools obscure how many people may be sick and several residents claim that the staff manipulate testing.
For example, in addition to the two confirmed active cases, there are 25 incarcerated people who have symptoms and are awaiting test results. On July 6, there were only 14 individuals awaiting results while being symptomatic. There are also over 20 housing unit pods under quarantine with incarcerated people who have had exposure to someone who has tested positive, a significant increase since last week.
In testimony published on May 22, Angelo Valdez, an individual who was formerly incarcerated in Santa Rita Jail, claimed that staff had manipulated the testing procedure to keep case numbers down. According to Valdez, after he tested positive for they waited until he had completed his 14-day quarantine, then quarantined and tested the pod he had been living in. That way, any other people in the pod who may have contracted the virus from him would not test positive.
There is evidence to suggest that jail conditions may have improved. A health inspection tour taken by the Public Health Department on June 8 and filed on the 25th stated that they were “satisfied that ACSO and Wellpath have adopted and implemented appropriate policies and procedures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.” And the number of “orange” patients, separated from the general population due to increased risk of complications associated with COVID-19 has been steadily increasing—it is now at 162.
At the same time, the history of the jail suggests that recent inmate testimony is true. Santa Rita Jail has seen over 40 deaths in the last five years under Ahern and two major lawsuits in recent years over inhumane and unsanitary conditions. In fact, just two weeks ago body camera footage was released undercutting deputies’ claims about 20-year-old Christian Madrigal, a man who hung himself at Santa Rita Jail last spring while incarcerated there.
Santa Rita Jail and Alameda County
Santa Rita Jail is currently holding 1835 incarcerated people. Although the population is down 762 from March 1, it is up significantly from a low of 1726 on April 25 and has been climbing for the past week.
Additionally, Byron Aldredge, an individual incarcerated in Santa Rita Jail until recently, claims that the jail has been regularly releasing inmates, meaning that actual intake is likely higher than the slow recorded increase in population.
Jail Staff Report
After an explosion of staff cases in late June—from a total of six confirmed cases on Tuesday, June 16, to 35 the following Monday—the number of active cases has steadily fallen. This last week it has gone from 24 on Monday to 10 as of yesterday.
However, similar to the small rise in confirmed cases of incarcerated people, confirmed staff cases began to rise last Thursday after a week of zero cases. Two new cases were confirmed on July 2, and one more yesterday.
Although staff are typically ordered to stay home if they have been exposed to the virus, the jail’s official policy states that if they are understaffed, asymptomatic staff are allowed to return to work. This poses a serious risk considering that many people who catch COVID-19 may have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic.
