What Are Prisons and Jails Doing to Brace for Coronavirus? Not Much. (Updated)

State officials continue to identify more coronavirus cases in Tennessee, bringing the true scope of the crisis into view. But one population faces unique vulnerability when it comes to infection — the inmates and staff of the state's prisons and jails. 

So what are officials doing to prevent or mitigate potential outbreaks at those facilities? For now, not that much. 

In a memo sent last week and shared with the Scene by a department spokesperson, Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Tony Parker and the department's chief medical officer Dr. Kenneth Williams said the department is "reinforcing proactive efforts to protect staff, inmates, volunteers, and visitors from potential exposure to viruses." Those efforts include the basic advice coming from the Centers for Disease Control and the Tennessee Department of Health: cough or sneeze into the bend of your arm; wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer; avoid social contact; and regularly disinfect high-touch surfaces. 

Some of those steps aren't as feasible for inmates as for people on the outside, though. Avoiding hugs and handshakes can be done in a prison or a jail, but social distancing strategies are more difficult in a facility where hundreds of people are contained in close quarters. Other recommended steps are simply not allowed. Inmates in Tennessee prisons have access to hand sanitizer, but it can't be alcohol-based, which is what the CDC recommends. Alcohol-based products are often considered contraband in prisons around the country.

The department's memo said officials will be monitoring new developments and "adjust our plans." TDOC also released guidelines for hand-washing, and have instructed visitors who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or have recently traveled to high-risk areas to stay away. 

As for the Nashville's local jail, Davidson County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Karla West tells the Scene that the office is "following the health department’s guidelines as with the general community." Jail-entry health protocols, she said, are managed by the health department and a private health care contractor. (A Metro Health Department spokesperson has not yet responded to the Scene's questions about steps being taken at the jail.)

The spread of the virus is already affecting prisoners in other states and other countries. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to combat the virus relied on prisoners to manufacture a specially made hand sanitizer. They'd be paid no more than 62 cents an hour to produce the product they possibly wouldn't be allowed to use.

At least one Tennessee Democrat has suggested the state do the same. Nashville state Rep. Jason Powell says he's inquired with the TDOC about using a similar program to have prisoners produce hand sanitizer. 

In Iran, officials hoping to slow the outbreak in the country's jails have announced the temporary release of around 70,000 inmates.

Update (March, 12): The TDOC has suspended visitation at all state prisons. Legal visits will still be allowed. From the department's announcement: 

The Tennessee Department of Correction is committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our staff, inmates, visitors and volunteers. We are actively monitoring COVID-19 developments and will continue to follow the guidance of the Tennessee Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control. 

Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of the health and wellness of what we consider a vulnerable population, we have suspended visitation at all TDOC prisons until further notice. We are exploring alternative opportunities for our inmates to maintain communication with family and friends. Volunteer services will be suspended as well. We will conduct non-invasive screening onsite for staff entering our facilities.

Offenders who are on community supervision will be contacted by their probation/parole officer for reporting guidelines.

This is an unfolding, fluid situation and we will re-evaluate these measures on a daily basis.