Georgia Department of Corrections COVID-19 Update

Georgia Department of Corrections COVID-19 Update

Sneeze/Cough Guard Masks Being Distributed for Staff and Offenders

FORSYTH, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC), in partnership with Georgia Correctional Industries (GCI), announced the production and distribution of sneeze/cough guard masks for use by staff and offenders, as an added measure in its continued efforts to prevent further spread of COVID-19 within GDC facilities.    

Production of the non-medical grade masks began March 31 at three facilities, where GCI maintains sewing plant operations: Central, Hancock, and Pulaski State Prisons.  One mask, which can be hand washed and reused, will be provided to each staff member and each offender, and initial shipments have been made to Transitional Centers and female facilities.  Ultimately, GCI will produce approximately 85,000 of these masks in an effort to ensure each staff member and each offender across all GDC facilities receives two masks. 

GDC remains committed to the safety and welfare of our staff and offenders. As more information develops related to additional mitigation efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, updates will be provided via the GDC website and social media channels. We remain vigilant in our efforts to use all of the resources at our disposal to maintain the safety and security of our facilities.

For accurate and reliable information about COVID-19, please visit https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

For a complete list of GDC’s overall plan and response related to COVID-19, as well as a list of Frequently Asked Questions for Family and Friends, please visit http://gdc.ga.gov/content/faq2.

###

About the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 54,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees. For more information on the GDC, call 478-992-5247 or visit http://www.gdc.ga.gov.