We are on a long lockdown … 21 days so far (on and off, depending on what unit you are in and whether you have an “essential” job) and still counting. It’s been the longest one for us; it’s like we are in a USP rather than a medium-security prison.
For two of those weeks, the email computers and phones were down. so we couldn’t communicate with family and friends the little time we were let out for showers. I think it was deliberate, so we couldn’t share what was going on.
This is how the lockdown rolled out: The in-cell time for the first week was 24/7; we only were allowed out for showers every three days. The second week, my unit was divided into three tiers, with cohort coming out for 60 to 90 minutes. But some units, I was told, did not even get that. The weekends were full lockdowns. Many people are mentally suffering.
From another resident there: It’s the third week now, and we are allowed out, but confined to our units. No moves are permitted: no recreation, no visits and breakfast in served in our cells. (What I don’t get is that we get lunch and dinner in the chow hall! How does that make sense?) I have been very blessed to at least get called out to help in the laundry for several days. There is a central laundry here that everyone has to use to wash their clothes. So, laundry has to be in operation no matter what. I help fold clothes, pick up and deliver.)
The access to login to the computers or make phone calls went down on the first day of the lockdown. After few days to the lockdown, they were letting some food service workers go prepare the food. So some of them tried to login and they couldn’t. So even though they had access the monitors, they were not able to login. The same with the phone. However, when the validations for tablets and MP3 expired, that issue helped expedite a login which also activates the phones. By then, two weeks went by. By the Grace of Allaah, the Most Merciful, our unit had great staff: the doctor herself went cell to cell collecting our tablets and MP3s to hook them to be charged and brought them back to us when done. She did that for few days since the charge doesn’t last long. I am still not fully aware of what’s going on since PROLONGED contact with guys from other units is limited and the unit where the fight or fights took place is currently not possible. they have been shipping guys out of here but still have over 30 more to ship before they let that unit out.