Bledsoe County Correction and coronavirus

With coronavirus cases skyrocketing in in the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex, one inmate's family is speaking up on his behalf after he is diagnosed with the virus.

News 12 at 11.

One local county has seen its covid-19 cases shoot through the roof this week.

The state is dealing with a major outbreak at the bledsoe correctional facility on the plateau.

News 12's winston reed talked to a family whose son tested positive last week.

Take pkg: 100 percent of inmates who tested positive for the coronavirus in east tennessee are inside bledsoe county correctional complex.

That's according to the tennessee department of health who is partnering with the state's department of corrections in the wake of the facility's outbreak.

Glenn czarnecki/ southeast regional director for the tn.

Dept.

Of health: "we're working closely together to try and reduce the impact on that particular facility."

Patricia gann: "when my son called me yesterday and he got his test results on thursday and he's positive."

Patricia gann's son phillip branum is an inmate at the bledsoe correctional facility.

She's concern he may not be receiving enough medical attention.

Gann: "i said 'son what are they doing?

What have they given you?

Well they ain't given me nothin' mama.'

Branum's sister alise stephens is advocating for fair treatment and distribution of resources during a pandemic.

Alisa stevens: "it's not fair that they have to wait and buy it off commissary.

They shouldn't have to buy their medication off commissary when the prison has the proper treatment."

The family hopes banum makes it through his sentence.

Gann: "he'll be out in a year if he survives this."

The tennessee department of correction tells news 12 that they are actively using extensive protocols such as immediate quarantine and enhanced sanitation in high touch and shared workspace areas.

A schedule has been formed in all state prison facilities to ensure facilities are cleaned multiple times per day.

Gann: "i would like to be assured that somebody in the state is going to take care of him."

Reporting in bledsoe county winston reed news 12 now