Federal prisons are lifting COVID-19 visitor restrictions -- and workers are worried

[TexasTowelie]

WASHINGTON -- The Bureau of Prisons directed all federal prisons to reopen visitation for inmates by Oct. 3 in a memo sent to wardens this week, a move that representatives for correctional officers said would be dangerous and “opening Pandora’s box.”

The Bureau of Prisons suspended visitors coming to see inmates in March amid concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. Six months later, it is directing wardens to open visitation under “non-contact only” rules.

“Social visiting will resume no later than Saturday, October 3, 2020, in accordance with the guidance below,” the memo sent on Monday states. “Wardens will immediately begin developing local procedures to reinstate social visiting.”

Nationwide rules include temperature checks for visitors, at least 6 feet of distance between all visitors and inmates, proper face masks and cleaning between each visitor.

Read more: https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/coronavirus/article245460710.html

[Jirel]

1. Too damned bad.

The disease was brought in by workers into multiple prisons, where it exploded among prisoners. So now, let them worry and be extremely careful for the sake of the prisoners and themselves. They can’t deny visits forever.

[Runningdawg]

2. They should be. A small OK town natorius for its womens prison

is reporting a 100% infection rate. Another small town reports an 85% infection rate at their prison. Which is right next to a casino. Where do you think those guards go to blow off steam after work? Then the guards and the casino workers carry it back to the community. One commenter on a local news FB pages said "who gives a damn? Most of them (the workers) have no symptoms" and when the old folks (at least a dozen of the last full blood members of the Osage tribe live here) in that town start dropping like flies, they will all say "the lord works in mysterious ways".