Ga Dept. of Corrections to End Public Reports of COVID in Georgia Prisons

The Georgia Department of Corrections announced Friday that it will no long publish routine COVID-19 updates.

The announcement came Friday as the state agency declared success in vaccinating staff and inmates. GDC said that cases have continued to decline and a 97% recovery rate among the inmate population and 99% among staff has bolstered confidence.

Additionally, a little more than 29,000 of the 47,000 offenders in state facilities have been fully vaccinated. The GDC has made the vaccine available to anyone entering the system and to those currently incarcerated. It is not mandatory.

COVID-19 testing protocols will remain in place, to include testing of all offenders upon intake.  All facility sanitation enhancements, and masks will be optional for both staff and inmates. 

GDC said in the event that the agency sees any changes to the status of COVID-19 facilities, it will consult with the Georgia Department of Public Health and the CDC. The COVID-19 dashboard available to the public will be reinstated “if the situation warrants based on any significant fluctuations.”