Department of Correction temporarily suspends in-person visitation as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19
Dover, DE – The Delaware Department of Correction (DOC) announces that effective Thursday, November 12, it is temporarily suspending in-person visitation in all of its Level V prison and Level IV work release and violation of probation facilities as a precaution to protect inmates and staff from COVID-19. This comes as public health officials report rapidly increasing numbers of positive COVID-19 test results among the general population and indications of significant community spread of the disease.
“The Department of Correction is carefully monitoring the growing number of cases across Delaware, and as a precaution, we are proactively suspending in-person visitation temporarily to reduce the risk of this illness entering and spreading within our facilities,” Commissioner Claire DeMatteis said. “Regular interaction with loved ones is very important and the DOC provides phone access in all correctional facilities as well as video visitation in every Level V prison to facilitate ongoing communication between inmates and their family and community supports.”
Thanks to DOC’s aggressive cleaning, screening, and mitigation measures that have continued uninterrupted since this spring, today there are only two isolated cases of COVID-19 among inmates, both from Sussex Correctional Institution. These isolated cases were identified through proactive screening and testing and both are receiving treatment. There have been no new positive inmate COVID-19 test results since October 29.
