COVID sick numbers growing at jail in September, federal judge told

Joseph P. Smith
Vineland Daily Journal

CAMDEN – Cumberland County Jail is dealing with a COVID-19 "outbreak" that has escalated from three inmates and one officer on August 31 to at least 14 inmates and seven staff members as of Sept. 14.

Correspondence filed starting Sept. 1 with a federal district court details the reported outbreak, which prompted a continuing lockdown that is limiting both inmate movements and visitation. The federal court is overseeing an inmate lawsuit, one filed in protest of coronavirus control measures at the jail.

On Tuesday, Cumberland County listed 14 inmates as testing virus-positive, with 11 under quarantine, three back in the general population, and no hospitalizations; and seven officers and staff, with five returned to work and two in quarantine.

As of Wednesday, the county said the isolated inmates numbered nine.

More:Cumberland gets closer to ending court fight over fate of jail

More:Sheriff charges woman for allegedly telling officers she has COVID-19

The situation is complicating getting in–person inmate and staff testimony to court here, according to letters sent as recently as this week to Judge Noel Hillman.

The letters are from county attorney Gregg Zeff and inmate attorney Paul Kalish, as well as attorney William Hughes Jr.

Hughes is involved as a special master in the lawsuit, reporting to the court based on independent investigation of the jail by himself and assistants. His appointment resulted from a compromise settlement struck in May. Special master findings to the court will underpin any more court orders on corrective actions at the jail.

Cumberland County Department of Corrections.

Police Benevolent Association Local 231, which represents “line” corrections officers, reports that one of its members was admitted on Monday to a hospital in Vineland.

Local 231 President Vic Bermudez said Tuesday that the officer, a Bridgeton resident, was on oxygen.

The sick tally Local 231 reports is similar to the county tally. The union says it knows of 14 positive testing inmates, four supervisors, two officers, and one nurse.

Bermudez said the county should immediately post a list of all positive cases, both in the jail and by email to all employees. That information would help ensure tracing and reporting, he said.

“Employees will then officially be advised and will have knowledge of who they have been in contact with for testing protocol,” Bermudez said. “Put the wristband protocol in place to identify those who have contracted and those who have not, in accordance with Special Master Hughes’ outlined suggestions.”

Bermudez said inmate families also need to be informed.

The county did not immediately have an answer to how many inmates and staff are vaccinated.

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey more than 30 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times. Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com or follow me on Twitter, @jpsmith-dj. Help support local journalism with a subscription.