The state’s department of corrections on Thursday canceled inmate visits at all state prisons for two weeks beginning Friday in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

The department will also begin “enhanced screening of all staff, vendors and contracted providers, including contracted chaplains” at all state correctional institutions, according to a press release.

"Our goal, in addition to delaying the impact of this virus on our system, is to continue normal operation of our system,” department of corrections secretary John Wetzel wrote in the release. “To focus on that goal, we need to limit who enters our facilities and focus on critical functions."

The press release says officials are working to increase inmates’ phone time and commissary order limits as a result of the cancellations.

"We are all in this together," Mr. Wetzel wrote. "So, together we are going to work to mitigate the virus' impact on our state prison system."

First Published: March 13, 2020, 1:15 a.m.