Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue: COVID-19
Introduction
The coronavirus pandemic is the most defining global health crisis and the most significant challenge that has been experienced since the Second World War. Since its advent in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, the coronavirus has spread to nearly all continents except for Antarctica. The confirmed cases are increasing daily in the Americas, Europe, and African continents. Globally, as of September 10, 2020, the total confirmed COVID-19 case was 27,738,179, including 899,916 deaths (WHO, 2020). The U.S has recorded the highest number of confirmed cases amounting to 6,272,193, including 188,608 deaths. The rapid growth in COVID-19 cases affects all sectors, from the financial industry to the global population’s health. As the virus continues to spread in the U.S., its effects on the U.S. healthcare system is without precedent, with estimated medical costs being in the hundreds of billions of dollars. This health crisis has implications for the health systems, nurses, and delivery of care (Schutz & Shattell, 2020). Nurses play a pivotal role in the public health responses to the crises, providing direct care, and decreasing the exposure risks to infectious diseases (Fernandez et al. 2020). The experience of nursing care has substantial short term and long term effects for nurses, the nursing profession, and the community. The purpose of this paper is to present a detailed explanation of COVID-19, focusing on the impact on incarcerated persons in Cuyahoga County Corrections. The paper also constitutes a literature review on research addressing the risk factors and effects of COVID-19 on incarcerated persons in various correctional facilities.
Impact of COVID-19 on Cuyahoga County Corrections
The Cuyahoga County Corrections Center is the second biggest jail in Ohio State. The full-service penitentiary provides superior management and care for more than 26,000 inmates yearly. The prison partners with MetroHealth Care to enhance the level and quality of medical services offered to prisoners. Three service lines, hygiene, imaging, and dental, were augmented to supplement MetroHealth’s robust portfolio and increase in-house capabilities. The first Cuyahoga County Jail inmates tested positive for the coronavirus on 3 April 2020. One month later, the number of inmates who tested positive increased to 90, exposed 376 other prisoners to the coronavirus (Ferrise, 2020). The inmates who tested positive were detained in special areas of the prison away from other inmates. At the time, there were 1,011 inmates in the penitentiary, which means about 42% of the prison population either contracted or exposed to coronavirus. Besides, 15 corrections officers also tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Cuyahoga County courts undertook significant steps to reduce the overcrowded jail population by releasing 1000 non-violent inmates. This freed up enough space to keep the inmates quarantined or isolated as required. The prison also maintained PPE utilization, surveillance process in testing and finding symptomatic people, and testing them. Locations in the jail were identified to isolate the 25 symptomatic inmates and quarantine up to 48 confirmed COVID-19 prisoners. Furthermore, the staff was educated on essential actions required to respond to COVID-19 issues in the Corrections Center. MetroHealth also conducted inmate screenings for the COVID-19 symptoms. Finally, the remote video visitation was used for the friends and family of the inmates, with one free remote visit weekly over 30 days. At the end of July, the county jail was free of coronavirus as there are no new cases.
Literature Review
Article Summary
Different studies have examined the effects of COVID-19 on prisoners, detainees, and staff in various correction facilities globally. The first article focused on the incarcerated persons and how COVID-19 has added an unprecedented threat to congested and ill-equipped correctional facilities. The article identified and addressed the health needs of the vulnerable incarcerated population. A risk-need-responsivity model was employed to reach empirically and well-informed decision making about the targeted releases of prisoners posing the least threats to community in a bid to alleviate burdens related to prison overcrowding (Vose et al. 2019). Another study highlighted that incarcerated persons are at excessively high risks of contracting the virus since prisons act as transmission epicenters to the community. The study revealed that the adverse impacts of COVID-19 in prisons are caused by rapid transmission due to higher rates of preexisting medical conditions, restricted accessibility to quality care, and incapability for social distancing (Henry, 2020). The scholars advocated that rapid Decarceration is a strategy for promoting health equity and maintaining public safety. Various examples presented in the article include Iran and Ireland as countries that have released considerable percentages of their penitentiary populations and transitioning into home confinement. In Uganda and the U.S, some jurisdictions have minimized new detentions by implementing policies for decreasing arrests.
Addressing COVID-19 in other Correctional Facilities
With over 11 million prisoners held worldwide in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions, with no access to suitable health care and inability to practice self-and-mutual measures, the real risk is that detention in a majority is detention in a pandemic may be a death sentence. Even though the walls and bars of the national correctional institutions can be effective in keeping criminals inside, they cannot keep out infectious diseases that threaten the health of inmates and employees. The impacts of penitentiaries on inmates’ health are complex since they have a higher prevalence rate for chronic diseases and low mortality rates compared to the U.S. population. This is attributed mostly to the racial and social class inequalities in the delivery of healthcare and poor health practices of offenders before imprisonment.
Strategies Used to Address the Organizational COVID-19 Impact
Different correctional facilities have undertaken various approaches to address and curb the spread of COVID-19 among prisoners, staff, and visitors. The scholarly articles presented numerous strategies aimed at addressing the organizational impact of COVID-19. A study recommended that the only means to avoiding the COVID outbreak is a drastic reduction of the incarcerated populations by decreasing unnecessary admissions and accelerating prison releases (Hawks et al., 2020). These strategies have a positive on Cuyahoga County Jail. Specifically, the strategies include reducing the incarcerated populations, which in turn allows the correctional facilities to comply with the WHO social distancing strategies, institute improved cleaning measures, and undertake essential adjustments at the institution. These strategies positively impact the organization as it will restrict the transmission of coronavirus in correctional institutions, guarantee the health and safety of employees and charges, as well as allow prisons to cater to the inmate population needs effectively.
Conclusion
While the pandemic has vividly affected the lives of persons globally, a select population, inmates, are amongst the most likely to contract COVID-19 and least likely to reclaim optimal health. The first confirmed coronavirus cases in Cuyahoga County Jail were reported on 3 April 2020. In less than a month, the 90 inmates, along with 15 corrections officers, tested positive, exposing 376 other prisoners to the coronavirus. Thus, 42% of the prison population either contracted or exposed to coronavirus. The paper presented in-depth information on the effects of COVID-19 at the Cuyahoga County Jail, focusing on the various health and safety precautions being undertaken for prisoners, staff, and their visitors. Some of the measures implemented to the lower potential for the coronavirus included reduction of the overcrowded jail population, PPE utilization, surveillance processes in screening and testing, staff education, and remote video visitations. The aim was to prevent the spreading of the highly-contagious virus in the correctional units. Across the globe, prisons have minimized the prison population through rapid incarceration, decreasing arrests, and unnecessary admissions to expand for containing the pandemic. Other impacts include addressing health equity among the inmate populations and enhancing health outcomes.
References
- Fernandez, P. R., Lord, H., Halcomb, P. E., Moxham, P. L., Middleton, D. R., Alananzeh, D. I., & Ellwood, L. (January 01, 2020). Implications for COVID-19: a systematic review of nurses’ experiences of working in acute care hospital settings during a respiratory pandemic. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 111: 103637. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103637
- Ferrise, A. (May 4, 2020). 90 Cuyahoga County Jail inmates test positive for coronavirus in one month, exposing 376 others to virus.Online Metro. Retrieved fromhttps://www.cleveland.com/metro/2020/05/90-cuyahoga-county-jail-inmates-test-positive-for-coronavirus-in-one-month-exposing-376-others-to-virus-county-says.html
- Hawks, L., McCormick, D., Hawks, L., Woolhandler, S., McCormick, D., & Woolhandler, S. (August 01, 2020). COVID-19 in prisons and jails in the United States. Jama Internal Medicine, 180, 8, 1041-1042.
- Henry, B. F. (January 01, 2020). Social Distancing and Incarceration: Policy and Management Strategies to Reduce COVID-19 Transmission and Promote Health Equity through Decarceration. Health Education & Behavior: the Official Publication of the Society for Public Health Education, 47, 4, 536-539.
- Schutz, V., & Shattell, M. (August 01, 2020). Impact of COVID-19: What Does It Mean For Nurses and Health Systems? Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 58, 8, 2-3.
- Vose, B., Cullen, F. T., & Lee, H. (August 01, 2020). Targeted Release in the COVID-19 Correctional Crisis: Using the RNR Model to Save Lives. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 45, 4, 769-779.
- World Health Organization (2019). WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard. Retrieved from https://covid19.who.int/table