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Sen. Ritchie calls on lawmakers to allow COs to wear personal protective equipment to slow COVID-19 spread

Posted 4/1/20

A state senator is calling on Albany to allow corrections officers to wear their own personal protective equipment while on the job. State Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, released a statement saying …

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Sen. Ritchie calls on lawmakers to allow COs to wear personal protective equipment to slow COVID-19 spread

Posted

A state senator is calling on Albany to allow corrections officers to wear their own personal protective equipment while on the job.

State Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, released a statement saying allowing them to bring their own could help halt the spread of novel coronavirus, the virus that causes the COVID-19 respiratory illness.

“Currently, those who work in our prisons are prohibited from bringing their own personal protective equipment (PPE). This is unacceptable. At the very least, we need to take steps immediately to allow them to do so, and if possible, provide them with PPE that will ensure they are protected while on the job,” Ritchie said in a prepared statement. “Already, more than 50 correctional officers (statewide) have confirmed cases of coronavirus, and hundreds of others are in self-isolation. The longer we wait to allow our correctional officers and prison staff to utilize PPE, the more likely it becomes that there could be an outbreak in our prison system.

“The time to take action is now, and I will be continuing to urge the State to take steps right away to protect the health of those who work in our prisons, and the loved ones they go home to every day.”

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is also supporting the call.

“North Country Correctional Officers and their families are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus crisis, and the state has been slow to act on their concerns in implementing precautionary measures to mitigate the spread,” said Congresswoman Stefanik.

Stefanik said her office asked for prisons to stop prisoner transfers and visits weeks ago, and said New York was too slow in implementing those changes.

"Additionally, I am calling for an immediate prioritization of personal protective equipment for correctional officers, and enhanced information sharing between both federal and state prisons and county public health offices for the safety and health of corrections officers and our entire North Country community," said the congresswoman.

"Our correctional officers and prison officials do important work that must continue during the COVID-19 crisis, and the lack of PPE is unacceptable. As it stands right now, Correctional Officers are not allowed to bring their own PPE from home. I will continue to work with state and local officials to ensure this issue becomes a top priority for the state and federal bureau of prisons.”