WWW.TRIANGLE TRIBUNE.COM N Carolina nurses The Triangle raise alarm on lack of PPE By Nadia Ramlagan RIBUNE N.C. NEWS SERVICE TTHE TRIANGLE’S CHOICE FOR THE BLACK VOICE WINSTON-SALEM – North Carolina's nurses are signaling they may soon run out of masks, gloves and other personal protec- VOLUME 22 NO. 16 WEEK OF APRIL 19, 2020 $1.00 tive equipment, known as PPE. The North Carolina Nurses Association says an informal poll found that, of the 354 nurses who responded, around 60% said their facility already has a PPE shortage. Only 20% said their fa- North Carolina Central cility has the supplies it needs, and 21% said they were unsure. Dennis Taylor, an acute-care nurse practitioner in the Winston- pass rusher tackling Salem area, said a sudden surge in COVID-19 patients could doubters, difficult days upend the health care system. "There is just really widespread concern among nurses that we don't have all of the appropriate equipment that we may need to be able to do the screening and the treatment of pa- tients," Taylor said. As of April 12, the state is reporting more than 4,500 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus, and over 300 are currently hospitalized; 91 people have died. Please see NURSES/2A Inmates Stay-at- get home early could release ease By Jonathan Drew By Taylor Knopf THE ASSOCIATED PRESS N.C. HEALTH NEWS State prison officials are North Carolina’s governor reviewing early release for said Monday that he could certain, nonviolent in- ease some coronavirus-re- mates who are considered lated restrictions on busi- high-risk for COVID-19 nesses after April if complications and those social-distancing practices who are already scheduled continue to slow the virus to be released in 2020. The outbreak over the next two Department of Public weeks. Safety released six inmates Meanwhile, corrections of- under these new criteria ficials said they are letting and is considering about some inmates out of state 500 more. The six released prisons early if they didn’t so far were females who commit violent crimes and are pregnant or over the COURTESY fit criteria such as being at age of 65. DPS currently Muyiwa Shoyoye plays with his children. high-risk for COVID-19 com- houses 34,042 inmates. plications and nearing the There’s been concern end of their incarceration. from criminal justice advo- Gov. Roy Cooper stressed cates, inmates and their at a news briefing that relax- families that conditions New drug makes life ing restrictions meant to within prisons are not suit- slow the virus outbreak able for social distancing would be gradual — and that and proper hygiene during lifting them all at once would this pandemic. The fear is be a “catastrophe.” He said much better for dad he’s discussing with epi- that the virus could spread quickly within the facilities demiologists what steps and sicken many at once, could be taken after the end overloading prison infir- of April to help the economy. maries and local hospital with sickle cell disease Current measures include systems that receive pa- only allowing restaurants to tients from behind bars. By Freda Freeman son Demi, 7, and daughters people in North Carolina. serve takeout and delivery, The prison’s medical fa- CORRESPONDENT Alena, 5, and Ava, 3. Demi and About one of every 365 black restricting many nonessen- cilities also do not have Alena also have SCD, an inher- person has SCD, and about 1 tial businesses and making DURHAM – Living with sickle ited blood disorder that af- in 13 black baby is born with grocery stores follow social any ventilators for inmates cell disease has been a life of who may develop extreme fects primarily African the sickle cell trait. distancing and occupancy pain, fatigue, and frustration Americans. Shoyoye, who moved to the limits. complications of COVID- for Muyiwa Shoyoye. “My pain 19. They would be sent to April is Minority Health United States when he was 11 “We know that staying at was usually in my back. It got Awareness Month, and years old, grew up in Nigeria, home is not sustainable in local hospitals. so bad that I couldn’t get up in The first state prison in- Shoyoye hopes that sharing where he said life wasn’t easy. the long run, but the ev- the morning. I literally had to his story will raise awareness He had his gallbladder re- idence is overwhelming that mate tested positive for roll off my bed every morning the virus on April 1. Cur- and increase funding for SCD moved as a child due to SCD, right now staying at home to get up. And, I used to be so research. People of African and he learned to tolerate the saves lives,” Cooper told re- rently, more than 35 in- fatigued and weak to the point mates in six facilities have descent make up 90 percent of pain. It was the fatigue and porters, adding: “We need that I couldn’t walk to the toi- the SCD population, which af- weakness that wiped him out, people the next two weeks to tested positive. Ad- let,” Shoyoye said. ditionally, 20 prison staff fects about 100,000 people in and it got worse with age. really put the foot on the gas Shoyoye, 36, and his wife, the U.S., including over 3,400 and to stay at home as much at 10 facilities reported to Ashley, have three children: Please see SICKLE CELL/2A DPS positive tests for as possible.” COVID-19. A week follow- But, he added that, “North ing the first positive in- Carolina’s economy needs to mate test result, the ACLU be jump-started,” and he’s of North Carolina and working with experts on how other advocacy organiza- to do that while still protect- tions, along with inmates, Durham businesses adjust to ing people’s health. Dr. filed an emergency lawsuit Mandy Cohen, the state’s asking for early release of secretary of Health and prisoners who are consid- Human Services, said social ered high-risk for COVID- COVID-19, serve customers distancing had helped the 19 due to their age or state achieve “our goal of underlying health con- By Jazmine Bunch flattening the curve, having ditions. The Durham VOICE fewer people get sick at the Gov. Roy Cooper and DPS same time.” DURHAM – With Durham North Carolina Department Secretary Erik Hooks re- County surpassing 100 con- sponded to the lawsuit, of Public Safety Secretary firmed cases of COVID-19, ev- Erik Hooks announced that asking the courts to deny eryone is feeling the presence the request made by the state prison system, to of the coronavirus. From social fight the spread of the virus, prison advocates. Instead, distancing to increased health they announced the new was allowing some inmates and sanitation practices, the out of prison early to finish criteria DPS is using to re- virus has caused people to lease inmates on a case-by- serving their sentence under make major changes in their community supervision. The case basis. They also lives. reiterated the steps DPS approximately 500 offenders This includes Durham busi- under consideration for the has taken to protect in- ness owners. Those who’ve mates and staff from the sentence modification must put blood, sweat and tears into not have committed violent virus, such as temperature their businesses are now checks and isolating those crimes. Key factors being forced to make a major deci- considered are their age, with symptoms. sion: stay open with adjusted COURTESY Hooks wrote in an affi- health conditions and how services to support citizens or The staff members of Zweli’s assemble for a group portrait. close they are to their exist- davit that the reentry pro- close up shop completely to spreading or being a spot courage exercise and people’s ing release date. Prison offi- cess from prison to the prevent further spread of the where it could be spread,” he mental motivation. cials said that 35 inmates at community is complex, in- virus. said. “I had to take into consid- As a single dad of four chil- six state prison facilities and cludes several steps and After North Carolina Gov- eration which is more impor- dren, the closure of his busi- 20 staff at 10 facilities have typically starts more than ernor Roy Cooper issued a tant: financial stability or ness has given him plenty of tested positive for the virus. a year before an inmate’s stay-at-home order last month, health.” time to spend with his younger The move by the prison release date. “While reen- nonessential businesses like Prior to the shop’s closure, kids. He’s also used this time system comes after civil try is complicated in the Samuel and Sons Barber Shop Jenkins was taking only a lim- to do some spring cleaning rights groups and several best of circumstances, the in Durham had no choice but ited number of clients. He also and pick up gardening as a prisoners asked the North global pandemic caused by to close their doors. allowed Durham Parks and hobby. Carolina Supreme Court last COVID-19 poses additional Owner Samuel Jenkins was a Recreation to host livestream Jenkins said he’s trying to week to order state correc- challenges,” he wrote. few steps ahead of the order, fitness courses in his facility. use the extra time wisely to tions officials to release of- “State housing is still lim- closing his small Durham shop Although gyms were closed, better himself because — in fenders who are at higher ited and an offender who a week before the order was is- Jenkins said he wanted to en- Plase see PRISONS/2A sued.