The Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) is working closely with local and state public health officials to prepare for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), with the top priority being the health of staff and offenders at our facilities.
The plan of our ongoing public health response is to detect and rapidly contain introductions of this virus with the goal of delaying and ultimately preventing
sustained spread of COVID-19.
In February 2020, NDOC added COVID-19 to Medical Directive 231: Communicable Diseases, along with guidance to custody and medical staff for proper procedures for the housing, transportation, and release due to expiration of sentence or parole of
NDOC offenders with communicable diseases. NDOC has also continuously reviewed Medical Directive 211: Notification of Inmates with Infectious Diseases as new information about COVID-19 is released by the U.S. Center for Disease Control.
In response to COVID-19, NDOC has implemented the following protocols:
- The suspension of
visitation to all NDOC facilities starting on March 7, 2020, which was taken as
a precautionary measure to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Nevada. Suspended
visitation will be in-place until corrections and medical experts at NDOC,
working alongside local and state government agencies, determine that the
health and safety of staff and offenders are no longer threatened by COVID-19.
- Each morning, all employees are being screened for symptoms of the virus, including having their temperature taken. Anyone found with one of the cardinal symptoms (fever of 100.4 or greater, shortness of breath, dry cough, chills, muscle pain, new loss of taste or smell) are sent home where they must obtain medical clearance or test negative for COVID-19 before returning to work.
- The dissemination
of the latest CDC guidance
for staff and offenders, including the Center for Disease Control’s Stop the
Spread of Germs poster, in highly visible areas.
- Surface Sanitation Teams, using a 10% bleach concentration, are thoroughly cleaning surfaces at all facilities.
- Hand soap is readily
available at every facility, both in cells and in common areas. NDOC encourages all persons to frequently
wash their hands using warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Prison
Industries is manufacturing hand sanitizer, medical gowns, and protective masks
to ensure NDOC staff have access to these critical supplies.
- If an offender is
suspected of having an illness, or if they self-report feeling ill, NDOC
medical staff immediately assess the offender and place them in that facility’s
infirmary or medically observes them in their cell. Medical staff utilize the
appropriate test kits, some of which are provided by the State of Nevada, which
are then tested by the State Epidemiologist, to determine a diagnosis and
treatment. NDOC also alerts Culinary so meals are delivered to the offender while
they’re in the infirmary or their cell.
- To protect uninfected staff and offenders from possible transmission of COVID-19 by infected but unaware staff and offenders, NDOC is requiring all staff to wear a face mask when entering a secure facility. For safety and security reasons, offenders are not allowed to wear masks unless they are specifically ordered to by a medical provider and authorized by a warden, and are housed in controlled isolation. This is because staff must be able to identify offenders by face at all times, especially during an incident. Also, offenders wearing masks can more easily blend in with staff wearing masks, which increases the risk of escape.
In Response to COVID-19, NDOC has instituted the following:
Eligible offenders can receive two free phone calls to mitigate the impact of its
March 7, 2020 suspension of visitation and stay
connected with families and friends. Starting April 7, 2020, eligible offenders are receiving a discounted rate for sending secure instant messaging, not to include photos.
Offenders are being provided distance learning education thanks to a partnership between NDOC and Nevada's adult and post-secondary education providers.
NDOC leadership, including Director Charles Daniels and the deputy directors of industries, operations, programs, and support services are hosting offender townhalls to provide accurate and current information. Wardens are hosting similar townhalls at their facilities.
As a reminder, NDOC does not have statutory authority to early release offenders.
COVID-19 originated in
Wuhan, China and has gradually spread among humans since December 2019. The
virus primarily spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes releasing
droplets. Another person can become infected if
these droplets enter their mouth, nose, or eyes directly or through their
contaminated hands. An infected person who coughs or sneezes into their hands and
touches surfaces such as phones, tables, door handles, or toys can contaminate
them. Coronaviruses usually causes mild respiratory illnesses, such as the
common cold. COVID-19 causes more severe illness, and in 2%-3% of cases, death.
To inform Nevadans, the
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Governor's Office have
created a COVID-19 website to share information and
resources as it pertains to the current status of the coronavirus and its
impact within the State of Nevada. DHHS has also launched a daily report of the # of positive cases at facilities throughout Nevada, including NDOC facilities. Please view this report, which is updated daily, to track the number of positive cases at NDOC.