CARSON CITY — Visitors will be allowed back into Nevada prisons on a limited basis starting Saturday, after being shut out for 14 months because of the coronavirus pandemic, the state Department of Corrections announced today.
“We recognize the importance of the support each family provides to incarcerated individuals. Not only does that connection help offenders cope with their current situation, but also promotes a strengthened healthy family cohesion and leads offenders to a more successful transition back into the community,” department Director Charles Daniels said in a statement.
The virus has infected at least 5,500 people at 18 of 22 prisons statewide, killing 53 inmates and three staffers, according to Nevada records.
Prisoners, who’ve been infected at about a 40% rate, account for about 4,500 of the confirmed cases, Nevada’s COVID-19 dashboard shows. About a third of staffers also have been infected.
Visitors must undergo temperature checks and a rapid COVID-19 test. They must wear face masks at all times, and the number of visitors allowed will be limited, officials said.
Inmates may only have two visitors at a time, and visitors must be over 5 years old. No physical contact will be allowed, and social distancing guidelines will be enforced, officials said.
After an institution reaches a 75% vaccination rate, some restrictions will be removed. Once an 80% vaccination rate is achieved, all restrictions will be lifted, officials said.