give a breakdown of COVID-19
cases in
cases in
our area. You can see that by
our area. You can see that by
going to click 2 Houston dot
going to click 2 Houston dot
com slash
com slash
coronavirus first.
coronavirus first.
>> It’s time to tonight the new
>> It’s time to tonight the new
efforts by the Texas Department
efforts by the Texas Department
of Criminal Justice to protect
of Criminal Justice to protect
inmates and officers from the
inmates and officers from the
coronavirus this after some
coronavirus this after some
cases have turned deadly
cases have turned deadly
Channel 2 investigator Robert
Channel 2 investigator Robert
Arnold is live now.
Arnold is live now.
♪
>> Just within the last hour
>> Just within the last hour
officials with the Texas
officials with the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice
Department of Criminal Justice
announced they are putting
announced they are putting
several facilities in lockdown
several facilities in lockdown
to try to prevent the
to try to prevent the
further spread of COVID-19 in
further spread of COVID-19 in
fact moving forward tdcj
fact moving forward tdcj
officials say any time either
officials say any time either
an inmate or employee tests
an inmate or employee tests
positive for COVID-19 that
positive for COVID-19 that
facility will automatically be
facility will automatically be
put
put
♪
♪
in lockdown.
in lockdown.
>> The point of
>> The point of
the lockdown is to limit as
the lockdown is to limit as
much offender movement as
much offender movement as
possible within
possible within
the units.
the units.
>> Tdcj Jeremy diesel says at
>> Tdcj Jeremy diesel says at
least 15 prison facilities in
least 15 prison facilities in
different parts of the state
different parts of the state
are now under lockdown those
are now under lockdown those
lockdowns will last for at
lockdowns will last for at
least 14 days from the
least 14 days from the
time offender or employee is
time offender or employee is
tested for COVID-19 as of
tested for COVID-19 as of
today, 56 tdcj employees and
today, 56 tdcj employees and
47 inmates have tested positive
47 inmates have tested positive
for the virus dozens more are
for the virus dozens more are
awaiting test results
awaiting test results
there are.
there are.
>> Currently 127 offenders in
>> Currently 127 offenders in
medical isolation which is the
medical isolation which is the
combination of both pending and
combination of both pending and
positive
positive
COVID-19 tests and a little
COVID-19 tests and a little
over 12,000 offenders who are
over 12,000 offenders who are
on
on
medical restriction.
medical restriction.
>> Well this was happening.
>> Well this was happening.
We were also learning about the
We were also learning about the
first positive COVID-19 test at
first positive COVID-19 test at
this parole facility in
this parole facility in
northeast Houston. This is
northeast Houston. This is
where parolees are
where parolees are
transitioning from prison back
transitioning from prison back
society close to 500.
society close to 500.
Well these are currently living
Well these are currently living
in the Southeast Texas
in the Southeast Texas
transitional center on April
transitional center on April
3rd one parolee was rushed to
3rd one parolee was rushed to
the hospital he was suffering
the hospital he was suffering
stroke
stroke
like symptoms.
like symptoms.
>> Down the road there at the
>> Down the road there at the
hospital he was tested and have
hospital he was tested and have
come back positive for
come back positive for
COVID-19.
COVID-19.
>> Diesel’s says now 147 other
>> Diesel’s says now 147 other
parolees here have been placed
parolees here have been placed
on
on
medical restriction. They are
medical restriction. They are
not allowed to leave their
not allowed to leave their
housing unit, everything is
housing unit, everything is
brought to them while they’re
brought to them while they’re
being monitored for signs of
being monitored for signs of
the virus they’re
the virus they’re
all asymptomatic should they
all asymptomatic should they
show any symptoms and or have
show any symptoms and or have
a 10.
a 10.
>> they would obviously be
>> they would obviously be
taken for more medical
taken for more medical
treatment and put into medical
treatment and put into medical
isolation.
isolation.
>> And of course all of this
>> And of course all of this
comes after tdcj just announced
comes after tdcj just announced
this morning, what is believed
this morning, what is believed
to be the first death of an
to be the first death of an
inmate from
inmate from
♪
♪
covid 1970.
covid 1970.
The telford unit in northeast
The telford unit in northeast
Texas in
Texas in
that report follow word of the
that report follow word of the
death of a corrections officer
death of a corrections officer
who worked at the U.S. tell you
who worked at the U.S. tell you
that Huntsville but lived in
that Huntsville but lived in
Houston, according to T C Jay
Houston, according to T C Jay
49 year-old Calvin Wilcher was
49 year-old Calvin Wilcher was
admitted to the hospital with
admitted to the hospital with
heart problems on April first
heart problems on April first
while he was in the intensive
while he was in the intensive
care unit. He did test positive
care unit. He did test positive
for COVID-19 and unfortunately
