Visitation suspended at prisons and jails in Monterey County

SALINAS, Calif. (KION)

UPDATE: 3/18/20 6:24 P.M. -

Visitation is temporarily suspended at the Monterey County Jail, Sheriff Steve Bernal announced Wednesday afternoon.

In a message on the Sheriff's Office website, Bernal said visitation will be allowed after Monterey County lifts the "shelter-in-place" order made because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sheriff's Office is also asking people to call and make an appointment before coming to the jail or office.

ORIGINAL REPORT -

Salinas Valley State Prison is suspending family visits starting Monday along with all other California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facilities.

The CDCR is also implementing screenings for all people, including staff, who enter state prisons. They will asks if the individual is having symptoms of a respiratory illness and if they are having symptoms, then they will not be allowed in.

CDCR says they’re trying to protect the health of people who live, work and
visit the prisons.

In person parole hearings that determine if an inmate should be released 
from prison will not take place until further notice, but may be done by 
video or written correspondence.

Law enforcement agencies and jails are also taking precautions to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Visitors and new inmates will also now get screened when they come to the Monterey County Jail to keep the virus from making its way into the jail. Visitors will still be allowed to enter at this time.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has tested three inmates for the coronavirus so far, two of which have come back negative.

Fever, cough and difficulty breathing are just some of the symptoms jail medical teams are keeping an eye out for in inmates in the wake of the coronavirus.

Medical staff has been screening inmates since February 1 to see if they display symptoms or have been exposed.

“Since February 1st, we’ve had two inmates that have come into the jail that were potentially exposed, but they turned out negative to have the virus so we continue to monitor inmates that are coming into the Monterey County Jail,” said Monterey County Sheriff Steve Bernal.

As part of screenings, medical staff will check inmates temperatures, ask health questions and if they traveled recently or came in contact with someone who may have the virus.

Visitors will also be asked a series of health and travel questions as part of their screenings.

“We don’t want to expose them to our staff or any other visitors,” Bernal said.

There is a barrier between inmates and visitors so they are not worried 
about the virus getting into the jail that way.

The sheriff’s office is also asking the public to report low priority crimes or non emergencies online or by phone to avoid putting officers at risk.

Deputies will still be responding to emergency calls. Dispatchers are screening those calls with a series of questions so they can alert first responders if someone exhibits coronavirus related symptoms.

Dispatchers will ask questions, including topics about recent travel, possible exposure and if the person may exhibit flu-like symptoms.

There are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the CDCR facilities but staff and others entering the facility will be screened everyday. Staff are deep cleaning the facilities and readying protective equipment.

Sheriff Bernal said they do have a plan in place if someone in the facility tests positive. They will quarantine if necessary.