Some form of contagious disease is causing enhanced precautions at the Northeest Detention Center
located on the Tacoma Tarpits Superfund site. Over the weekend, visiting families, some coming from as far away as Portland, were turned away and told that an outbreak of a flu-like disease was on-going.
Even though the persons they were coming to visit were not ill, they were still prevented from visiting.
Guards are reportedly wearing green face masks in the facility and these were confirmed by observations of guards on break outside of the facility with masks hooked to their belts. Those held inside, reportedly, do not have masks and are using socks and other items of clothing to cover their faces.
Some reports indicate a partial quarantine is in effect although a medical officer at the facility denies this. The official confirmed that there is an outbreak of flu although no testing for more deadly strains like H1N1 of Avian flu is being conducted. Severe cases are being monitored in the medical unit but the official could not confirm if this was flu or Tuberculosis.
As reported:
"When one person in a pod becomes ill with a communicable disease, other pod residents are placed under some restrictions in that their movement out of the pod is restricted for 7 days. They are still allowed to see visitors since there is no direct contact with the visitors. There can be delays in bringing the restricted people to the visitor because of the special steps that are required. As far as attorney visits are concerned, they will tell the attorney that the resident can come to see him, but must wear a mask. The attorney can reschedule or see his mask-wearing client. There is no requirement that the lawyer wear a mask."
The Pierce County Health Department has been notified and is working to confirm and clarify the situation.
The privately owned and privately operated facility has a checkered past when it comes to managing disease outbreaks such as measles and food poisoning and is loath to provide prompt notification to the public. Health care is managed by the Public Health Service, Division of Immigration Services.
|
e-mail: 
homepage: