News  UPDATED: DOC TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS FAMILY AND FRIEND VISITS AT FACILITIES STATEWIDE

Milford — Out of an abundance of caution, the Massachusetts Department of Correction is taking affirmative steps in a continuing effort to prevent the introduction of COVID-19 into its facilities.  Effective immediately, family and friend visits have been temporarily suspended at each of the State’s 16 correctional facilities. Reinstatement of visits will continue to be evaluated on an on-going basis. Attorney visits will not be impacted and will be permitted during this time. 

The health of staff, incarcerated individuals, and visitors is of utmost importance.  DOC encourages all persons within its facilities, including DOC personnel, to practice the following prevention measures from the Department of Public Health (DPH): 

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. 

DOC staff have been instructed to notify their direct supervisors immediately for clearance to return to work before returning to any facility if they been in a place where the 2019 novel coronavirus is occurring, or if they have had close contact with someone who has the virus. 

The latest information about COVID-19 in Massachusetts is available at the Department of Public Health’s website here: https://www.mass.gov/guides/information-on-the-outbreak-of-2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19 

And a printable factsheet is available here:
https://www.mass.gov/doc/english-2019-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-0/download 

The latest Centers for Disease Control information about COVID-19 is available here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html