COVID-19: The View from Prison & the Gov's email

This brother is on lock in more ways than one. *insert deep sigh*
In addition to the regular exchanged pleasantries, here is the latest on AD's situation per an unedited excerpt from his latest email to me.

The govenor sent out a blast email to the population here and our family members saying all of the stuff that they are suppose to be doing for us but they are not like giving mask, extra soap, extra disinfect. I wrote the administration here to ask them why are we not getting the stuff that the govenor said that we are suppose to get and they said in not so many words that they dont care and that we are beat. This place is a mess!

The numbers of those who have COVID-19, be they employees or those incarcerated are staggering. At East Jersey alone, 35 employees and 8 inmates have COVID-19. Sadly, 2 inmates have died from the virus. East Jersey isn't the worst case.

I read through the FAQs. The responses appear to be more robust than they were just a week or so ago as indicated by the "As of 4/16" note and my own observation. That the response in the facilities themselves is as robust? Per AD, it's "a mess."

My email to New Jersey's Department of Corrections this morning.

Good Morning,
Regarding inmates receiving masks during this coronavirus crisis, to what extent are all inmates receiving masks? I've been corresponding with a mentee of mine who says that they're not getting them over at your East Jersey facility. He's naturally concerned given the number of employees and inmates who are contracting the virus and those who are dying from it. Your website says that "all inmates and residents are provided with surgical masks for use during the COVID-19 pandemic with instructions on proper usage."

Are we allowed to mail cloth or surgical masks?

Please advise...

Stephen R. Flemming