DOC begins screening for virus at SCI Phoenix

SKIPPACK » Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel announced, effective Thursday and until further notice, officials at the State Correctional Institution at Phoenix will initiate an enhanced screening process for all visitors and employees.

Anyone exhibiting symptoms, who has had recent contact with anyone presumed positive for COVID-19 or anyone who denies being screened will be prohibited from entering the facility, Wetzel said.

“We understand the value of inmate visits, and we also understand that it’s likely that COVID-19 will eventually be present at one of our facilities — that is why we are enhancing our screening processes and sanitization statewide,” said Wetzel. “For those with an increased risk, we have developed an enhanced screening protocol that includes a questionnaire, taking one’s temperature and asking a series of questions. We are monitoring our entire system and individual facilities daily, and we are taking steps to protect our employees and our inmates — a large number of whom are elderly and vulnerable.”

The Department of Corrections and SCI Phoenix officials have decided to take these measures because the prison is located in Montgomery County where there are active COVID-19 cases.

This decision also was made due to the large numbers of prison employees, volunteers, visitors, elderly inmates, inmates who are immunocompromised, parole violators, new commits and internal DOC inmate transfers.

As other areas of the state begin to see additional cases, the corrections department may decide to take these steps at its other facilities, including state prisons, community corrections centers, parole regions/districts/sub-offices and headquarters.

Department of Corrections officials recently directed staff to increase the frequency of cleaning/sanitizing high-use areas within offices and facilities, along with ensuring adequate access to cleaning material and hand soap for all.

Corrections officials also this week began sending daily COVID-19 emails to all employees to keep everyone informed.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO Some 2,500 inmates are housed the State Correctional Institution at Phoenix in Skippack, where officials announced new restrictions due to the spread of coronavirus in Montgomery County.