Nevada prisons suspend visitation amid COVID spike among inmates
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — State prisons in Nevada have suspended visitation as the inmate population experiences a new surge in COVID-19 cases.
The Nevada Department of Corrections said in a statement that 210 staff members and 209 inmates have tested positive so far this month, compared to 29 staff and 48 inmate cases from November.
"Our first priority is the safety of staff and offenders in our custody," William Quenga, deputy director for NDOC, said in the statement. "While we understand the tremendous value of visiting with friends and loved ones, we must prioritize health and well-being."
NDOC will require all staff and inmates to wear N95 masks, which the department will provide. All staff members are tested daily before entering any institution as well.
The department is reporting a 76.8% vaccination rate among its 2,305 employees, and a 67.7% rate among its 10,001 inmates.
