SC prisons end visits for 30 days to prevent coronavirus outbreak
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The S.C. Department of Corrections is prohibiting visitors to its correctional institutions for 30 days in an attempt to keep the coronavirus from spreading inside the state’s prison system.
The department announced the policy on Thursday, the latest addition to a string of announced cancellations and closings due to the spread of the COVID-19 disease, which is caused by the coronavirus, in the state.
In addition to stopping visitors from seeing prisoners, Corrections has also barred any volunteers from Kershaw County, which has seen the most cases of COVID-19, from coming into prison facilities to help out. Eight out of a dozen confirmed or suspected cases in South Carolina originated in Kershaw County.
Corrections is also has stopped sending out work crews from its Wateree Farm Correctional Institution, which sits on the county line between Kershaw and Sumter.
South Carolina’s prison system has yet to see an outbreak of the disease, but decided to institute the policy after consulting with the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, a Corrections spokesperson said.
Prisons are working to ensure all prisoners will still be able to call their families and loved ones during the shutdown.
Prisons were already subject to a cleaning regimen to combat the flu, and visitors, staff and incoming prisoners were being screened for the virus, The State previously reported.
The Department of Juvenile Justice also announced it would stop all visits for 30 days on Friday. Only essential personnel will be allowed into its secure facilities, while opportunities for telephone and videoconferencing with loved ones will be stepped up, according to a news release.
The Department of Mental Health also is limiting visitors to its Tucker Nursing Care Center on Harden Street in Columbia as well as the veterans nursing facilities the department operates. Family members are asked to call ahead of any visits to see if it will be possible for them to see their loved ones.
The only exception to the policy will be visits to those in hospice care, said spokeswoman Tracy LaPointe.
Later Friday, Mental Health also ended all visits to its in-patient psychiatric facilities, telling volunteers to stay away and restricting movements of patients in and out of the facilities. Visits may be allowed in “patient-specific circumsatnaces,” LaPointe said in a news release.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 11:44 AM.
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