Alden, N.Y. (WBEN) - In-person visitations at the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden are temporarily suspended because of an increase in positive COVID-19 cases amongst the incarcerated individual population.
Currently, the Division of Correctional Health has detected 15 confirmed cases of COVID among the incarcerated population, and is expecting that number to increase when more contact tracing and test results are received.
"My administration, working with the Jail Management Division and the Division of Correctional Health, has paused in-person visitation to protect those in our custody," said Erie County Sheriff John Garcia in a statement. "I understand that visits benefit the incarcerated population and their families, but I have to consider their health and limit their exposure to COVID and other viruses."
The Sheriff’s Office monitors the rate of illness weekly, and follows the current CDC guidelines for congregate settings, including testing, monitoring, and prevention within the facilities.
"I want to have in-person visits as soon as safely possible. However, my responsibility is to ensure the safety of those in our custody. As our facilities experience a decrease in infection rates, my administration will review in-person visitations," Garcia added.