Wednesday, March 25, 2020 | 7:05 PM




Good evening,
 
This email is to keep you updated on significant developments related to CDCR's COVID-19 response.
 

Today's updates

·      CDCR and CCHCS have unveiled a new Patient Testing Tracker which displays the number of incarcerated patients who have been tested for COVID-19, have tested negative, tested positive, have recovered, or have died, all by institution. ·      CDCR Secretary Ralph Diaz released a video message directly to CDCR staff.
·      CDCR Secretary Ralph Diaz also released a video message for the incarcerated population which will be airing on the Division of Rehabilitative Programs inmate television channel.

·      Effective, March 30, all in-service training (IST) will be postponed until July, including weapons qualifications training. IST courses taking place this week have been broken into groups no larger than 10 where social distancing can be achieved.
 
Other updates:
Classification committee
To mitigate workload when non-essential movement resumes, this cancellation of all non-essential inmate movement impacts movement only; classification committees and review processes will move ahead as normal. While it’s required to have three staff members to make a quorum, it is only required, during this unique time, to have two staffers physically present in the committee room with the remaining committee member joining by call. All present in the room should practice social distancing.
 
Population communication
CDCR Secretary Ralph Diaz will be releasing regular video message updates directly to the incarcerated population. You can see the latest message from March 25 here.
Wardens, captains, public information officers, and other institution executives have been instructed to meet with their respective Inmate Advisory Councils either individually or in small groups where social distancing can be maintained. This is to encourage an open line of communication between the incarcerated population and the institution leaders in charge of their care in order to quickly and efficiently meet their needs.
 
Communication and guidance to staff
CDCR Secretary Ralph Diaz will be releasing regular video message updates directly to CDCR staff. You can see the latest message from March 25 here.
 
In addition to these updates today, you can stay up-to-date with all CDCR/CCHCS response efforts on our COVID-19 website.
 
Thank you,
 
Office of Public & Employee Communications
COVID-19 Response Team