 'A facility for the holding and assement' of people suspected of having contracted or been in close proximity, leading to possible exposure to 'necro-mortosis'.
That is the official, if somewhat wordy, description given to the booming growth of undead quarantine facilities, now spreading at a surprising rate across America.
What started in 2006 as a few, isolated and secretive State run quarantine centers, has now developed into a common sight throughout most of the United States.
However, the regional locality of many of these centers is beginning to raise concern amongst many community leaders and action groups.
The amount of facilities in California alone has risen from only 2 in 2006 to 97 in 2010. Many of these facilities are in suburban areas, at least 3 are near local schools.
William Wade, leader and spokesperson for the California based action group 'Infection Free - CA' said "This is not about denying these people access to help. It's about relocating them to high security detention centers. Not small clinics where necro sufferers can escape into the night."
That risk is slight. In fact, there has only been 2 recorded cases of people having escaped such facilities in 1010. Both were later caught without incident, and other family members were later charged with aiding their escape. However, tensions within the community remain high.
Harassment and violence
Although 'Infection Free - CA' states purely practical concerns, other factions, many faith based, are crusading against the clinics on moral grounds.
One such quarantine facility in Corona, CA has been the target of constant protest and verbal abuse since it's opening in 2009. A local church group, The Iglesia Apostolica de la Cristo Jesus, has admitted organizing it's members to protest the quarantine facility. A recent court order prohibits their members from being closer than 35 feet to the entrance, staff or patients. But the loud calls of "Get a life", or "God hates the undead" have prompted this facility to add security guards to it's entrance.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one facility doctor told ZWN how she has been followed home, had her front room windows smashed and garage vandalized with graffiti. She says she fears for her co workers too. "It's crazy. We are here, by request of the government, to screen possible infected people. To help save lives and stop this pandemic taking hold on these shores. And yet these people just don't get it. This church whips them up in a furry and they just go off harassing innocent people."
"These places are full of sadness, fear and desperation. The patients are traumatized enough without this harassment" she concluded.
Violence towards quarantine facilities in other parts of the USA are reportedly on the increase also.
The quarantine and screening issue is growing to become one of the most publicly and politically volatile issues in modern American society, especially since the Supreme Court in 2007 found a constitutional right to a quarantine facility in Nevada, AZ to maintain it's business within city limits.
To protect those admitted and quarantine-clinic doctors and staff, Congress in 2007 passed a law called F.A.Q.E. — the Freedom of Access to Quarantine Entrances Act (18 U.S.C., Sect. 249). The law prohibits injuring, intimidating or interfering with any person who obtains or provides screening, medication or hospitalization for the possible exposure of necro-mortosis. It provides for civil and criminal penalties against violators. The law has survived several First Amendment challenges.
Sometimes courts will pass a special injunction providing for even greater control over anti-quarantine demonstrators. Many times these injunctions take the form of buffer zones.
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