• There are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within CDCR institutions.
  
  
• Effective March 16, family visiting will be suspended at all CDCR adult institutions until further notice. Families visiting this weekend will finish their visits as scheduled.

March 15, 2020 - Executives and staff at CDCR and CCHCS are working closely with infectious disease control experts to prepare for a scenario where COVID-19 (new coronavirus) could significantly affect our operations. The multidisciplinary workgroup includes health care executives, public health nurses, custody and prison operations executives, occupational safety experts, and department planners responsible for business continuity in an emergency. We will continue to ensure inmate safety and security, and the continuation of access to medical, dental, and mental health services for the incarcerated population.

CDCR and CCHCS are dedicated to the safety of everyone who lives in, works in, and visits our state prisons. We have longstanding outbreak management plans in place to address communicable disease outbreaks such as influenza, measles, mumps, norovirus, and varicella, as well as preparedness procedures to address a variety of medical emergencies and natural disasters. 

Due to the unique factors of each institution and the population each houses, the department remains agile in our response to any potential case of COVID-19 based on the factors and risk related to that case, with the top priority being the safety and protection of staff, volunteers, and the incarcerated population.

We are bolstering our response readiness by taking several proactive steps to educate those who work in, live in, and visit our facilities regarding ways they can protect themselves and those around them from COVID-19.

BELOW IS AN OVERVIEW OF STEPS WE ARE TAKING REGARDING COVID-19

Visiting:

As part of CDCR’s COVID-19 prevention efforts, normal inmate visiting will be canceledstatewide until further notice based on California Department of Public Health guidance for mass gatherings. This includes overnight family visits and Division of Juvenile Justice visiting. At this time, legal/attorney visits and hospice visits will be held as scheduled.

Family visits are extended overnight visits, provided to eligible inmates and their immediate family members in accordance with institution security and space availability requirements.

CDCR recognizes the value of visitation in maintaining important connections with family. However, at this time the Department must do all it can to protect the health of those who live in, work in, and visit state institutions. This measure is taken as part of CDCR’s comprehensive enhanced precautions related to COVID-19.

More information regarding rescheduling family visits, and food orders already placed, will be forthcoming.

Marriages will be postponed, those affected are encouraged to work with the institution’s Community Resource Manager regarding rescheduling for a later date.

At this time, all tours are being postponed, and no new tours are being scheduled. The department has issued limitations on discretionary visits to the prisons; this does not include those entering the facilities to provide normal rehabilitative programming. Discretionary visits include tours and special events.

Rehabilitative programming and population communication:

CDCR is committed to maintaining positive, normal programming to encourage the incarcerated population to remain focused on their rehabilitation. However, those visiting state prisons every day as program providers, contractors, and volunteers are urged to not enter a CDCR institution, or take part in a program or event, if they have symptoms.

CDCR will continue to allow all inmates access to religious services.

To keep members of our population informed, we have created and distributed fact sheets and posters that provide education on COVID-19 and precautions recommended by CDC, which expand upon those advised during cold and flu season. We have also begun streaming CDC educational videos on the CDCR Division of Rehabilitative Programs inmate television network and the CCHCS inmate health care television network.

To increase precautions for the incarcerated population, institutions will be providing extra cleaning supplies at no cost to the incarcerated population to maintain good personal hygiene and a clean living environment. CDCR already provides the population with hospital-grade disinfectant and access to soap and running water in all areas they are housed.

Institutions have been instructed to create staggered dining schedules where possible to limit the size of the population that is congregated at one time, but to also allow additional cleaning and disinfecting to be done of the dining halls between groups.

Additionally, we are providing regular department updates regarding COVID-19 response to the Statewide Inmate Family Council and all institutional Inmate Family Councils who serve the family and friends of the incarcerated population to ensure they are aware of the steps the department is taking to protect their loved ones housed in our institutions.

Transportation/Receiving and Release protocols

For inmates coming into the CDCR system, who are being transported to county jail to attend court hearings, or are transferring from prison to prison, we are completing a comprehensive health screening and assessment by health care professionals when they are both processed into and out of an institution; including temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration screenings. They are also asked a series of questions about their state of health.

Expanded precautions at institutions

Effective March 14, CDCR and CCHCS will implement mandatory verbal screening for every person entering within a secured perimeter of state prisons, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, each time they enter an area where the incarcerated population is permitted.

Institutions have been instructed to conduct 24/7 screening requiring those attempting to enter a state prison’s secure perimeter to verbally respond if they currently have symptoms of a respiratory illness. If the individual’s response is that they are experiencing symptoms, they will be restricted from entering the institution that day. Individuals will be required to respond each time they attempt to enter a CDCR institution. This includes all staff, visitors, program volunteers, and others entering any CDCR state prison.

If an employee answers “yes” to the question and is sent home, they should be provided Administrative Time Off (ATO) for that day. If in subsequent days, they are still unable to come to work because of illness, all viable options for telework should be considered and if not feasible, they shall use all available leave credits or approved dock. The employee can come back to work when they can answer “no” to the question based on public health guidelines.

All CDCR institutions have been instructed to conduct additional deep-cleaning efforts in high-traffic, high-volume areas, including visiting and health care facilities. Additional hand sanitizer dispensing stations are being procured and will be placed inside institution entrances and visiting areas.

Staff and people entering prison as contractors, volunteers, or to facilitate programs, have been granted permission to carry up to two ounces of personal-use hand sanitizer. The incarcerated population is being provided extra soap and hospital-grade disinfectant that meets Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for COVID-19.  

CDCR and CCHCS have been actively monitoring and assessing institutions to ensure staff have an adequate supply of personal protective equipment to immediately address any potential COVID-19 exposures, and to protect staff and inmates. The workgroup will continue to collaborate and maintain open lines of communication with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to identify any deficiencies and ensure adequate supplies are available at each institution on an ongoing basis.

Communication and guidance to CDCR and CCHCS staff

We have worked continuously to keep staff informed of the evolving situation, including creating internal and external webpages with health-related information from CDC and California Department of Public Health on how they can protect themselves against COVID-19. We have also provided staff with California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) updates on personnel and work-related questions specific to the COVID-19 issue. CDCR and CCHCS cares for the health and wellness of its workforce and have been working to accommodate those who have been impacted by this evolving situation. We will continue to work diligently with CalHR and labor organizations on how we can best keep our workforce protected and provide for the safety and security of our institutions.
Source: CDCR