Incarceration visits suspended by state

Starting at 3 p.m. Wednesday, visits to all state incarceration facilities will be suspended until further notice. That is the word from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision via its website this week.

Since the middle of December, coronavirus cases for those incarcerated have increased. At the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility in Brocton and the Gowanda Correctional Facility, through the most recent data available from Dec. 24, there are 20 and 30 known positive cases, respectively, with an increasing number of pending test results not yet known. At Collins Correctional Facility, there are two known cases with 51 pending.

"Unfortunately, as a result of the significant increase in COVID-19 infections among the incarcerated population, staff and the surrounding communities, visitation will be temporarily suspended statewide, effective Wednesday," the notice on the DOCCS site says. "Non-contact legal visits will be allowed to continue under previously announced protocols."

In mid December, there was a growing concern from workers and family members of staff at Lakeview testing positive for COVID-19. Since that incident, inmate positive tests have risen from only one to the 20 known on Christmas Eve.

Across the state, the number of staff impacted by COVID-19 has risen from 2,169 to 2,805 during a two-week period that began on Dec. 11. That is an increase of 636 -- or 29.3%. The number of inmates testing positive, through Dec. 25, was 2,660. Of those cases, 2,045 have recovered.

"Every facet of the state's response to the COVID-19 outbreak has been guided by facts, scientific data, and the guidance of public health experts at state Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and the work of DOCCS to protect the safety of New York's corrections staff and incarcerated population is no different," said Thomas Mailey, director of public information for DOCCS. "DOCCS is currently following all state Department of Health guidelines regarding congregate settings at each of its facilities."