Corrections officers in Anne Arundel County brace for a potential outbreak

As the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in Maryland, corrections officers in Anne Arundel County are bracing for a potential COVID-19 outbreak at the jails.

PROTECTING THE PUBLIC BYGUARDING PRISONERS ACROSS THESTATE.

BUT NOW CORRECTIONALOFFICERS SAY THEY'RE CONCERNEDFOR THEIR OWN LIVES IN THISCORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK.

THEREBEEN MORE THAN 50 CONFIRMEDCASES AT FACILITIES INMARYLAND.

SO FAR, THERE ARENONE IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTYJAILS.

AS WMA━2 NEWS RAYSTRICKLAND REPORTS,CORRECTIONS OFFICERS THEREBELIEVE IT'S ONLY A MATTER OFTIME BEFORE ONE OF THEM TESTSPOSITIVE.“Therefear” Chris Blanton IS acorrections officer in AnneArundel County.

HE'S ALSO thepresident of the Fraternalorder of detention officersand personnel.

Blanton says heand others are bracing for apotential outbreak of COVI━19at the county jails.“We haveplenty of staff members withthe underlying healcondition this virus isaffecting and killing” InMaryland, there ARE MORE THAN55 confirmed cases of tvirus at state correctionalfacilities 22 correctionsofficers━ TWO DOZEN OTHERSARE CONTRACT STAFF.

But sofar, no confirmed cases atAnne Arundel County jails.“Itis worrisome to know thatthere is a virus, usually youcan see what youyou ca” Earlierthis week, an Anne Arundelcounty circuit court judgereleased 10 inmates from jailin an effort to stop thespread of the virus.

AND THEREARE growing calls to reducethe inmate population inprisons and jails whereBlanton says itimpossible to practice socialdistancing.“where we are atits a confined space, itconfined building with a lotof staff and inmates,unfortunately for the officers ou dondistancing aspect you canreally use” Blanton says thecounty IS TAKING steps toprotect staff and inmates fromcontracting the virus.“Everyemployee there has to wear asurgical mask while theythe facility”“Staff isgetting their temperaturechecked prior to coming in.“We have thermometers to checkevery new detainee as they comeinto the facility” Butdespite the safety measures,Blanton is worried no matterwhat they do, the virus willlikely get in.’We see it asbeing a matter of time but wehope that it does”Ray Strickland WMA━2 NEWSAND WE LEARNED TONIGHT AINMATE IN THE BALTIMORE C