SUFFOLK
COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT TAKING PROACTIVE STEPS AGAINST THREAT OF COVID-19
Amidst the global
outbreak of COVID-19, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department has begun the
implementation of proactive measures that are designed to prevent potential
exposure to the virus by staff and the men and women in Department care and
custody.
The Department is
monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation closely, and, thus far, there have
been a limited-but-growing number of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts. As of
March 10th, there was 1 confirmed case and 91 presumptive cases in
Massachusetts, with 20 of these cases occurring within the communities of
Suffolk County.
In accordance with
state guidelines and recommendations, the Department is taking steps to
minimize the possible exposure of staff and inmates and detainees, and to
maintain a safe work place by reviewing, and where necessary, adopting new
practices to protect the health of all employees and inmates while we continue
to perform the Department’s mission.
The Department is
taking the following steps:
1.
Increasing orders for personal safety equipment, including gloves, masks, hand
sanitizers and dispensers, soap and paper towels;
2.
Communicating with staff through postings, roll calls, and e-mails about the
signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and reminding them about effective methods to
safeguard against it;
3.
Increasing the regular cleaning and sanitizing of communal surfaces and
frequently touched objects;
4.
Disinfecting transport vehicles regularly;
5.
Suspending all inmate/detainee visits, except for attorney visits;
6.
Restricting volunteers and outside program staff and activities;
7.
Coordinating with medical and food vendors to ensure preparedness; and
8.
Developing contingency plans to address the potential needs of the institutions
should an inmate(s)/detainee(s) be diagnosed with COVID-19, in addition to a
host of other measures.
With respect to
the temporary suspension of inmate and detainee visits, the Department will be
providing the opportunity for them to make a call to family members and friends
to notify them of the temporary suspension. Attorneys will continue to have
access to Department facilities for client visits.
For more
information concerning visits and/or contacting your friend or loved one, call
the House of Correction at: (617) 635-1000 x2007 of the Suffolk County Jail at:
(617) 635-1100 x3001.
For additional
information about COVID-19, please visit the websites for the Centers for
Diseases Control at: www.cdc.gov
and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at: https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19
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