(WENY)-- 5800 inmates since the start of the pandemic have been confirmed with COVID.

Out of that, today the Department of Corrections reported 5413 have recovered and are out of isolation.

However, visitation remains suspended at all state Correctional Facilities until further notice.

They say they've seen an uptick in COVID cases in the past months 

In a statement the Department of Corrections said,

“Community spread continues to be a driving factor behind the spread of COVID-19, and just as the entire state had seen an uptick in cases the past few months, New York’s correctional facilities have experienced this same trend. While the number of cases at the majority of facilities is beginning to go down, we continue to manage cases following CDC and DOH protocols. Visitation remains temporarily suspended at all DOCCS facilities until further notice.”

Although this week the COVID positivity rate outside of state prison walls is just under three and a half percent the lowest since November 23 according to Governor Cuomo's office. Despite that visitation is still not an option.

In the second week of December when the infection rate was at four and a half percent visitation was allowed.

The department reported administering 6,000 COVID vaccines amongst staff and inmates sixty-five years or older.

They acknowledge the number of cases at the majority of facilities is beginning to go down.

In the meantime, the department of corrections says they are offering access to free calls and secure messages weekly for inmates through February 28th.

  •  Phone Calls- Each inmate will receive three free calls per week up to fifteen minutes per call. 
  • Secure Message Stamps- Each inmate with access to a general confinement tablet and kiosk will continue to receive two free stamps to use for secure messaging per week.
  • Free Pre-Paid Reply Wednesdays- Every secure message sent by a friend or family member on Wednesday will be accompanied by a free pre-paid stamp that will allow the inmate to reply to the sender through Wednesday, February 24th.
  • Newsstand application- Free subscription to the Newsstand application.