Updated: Friday, March 13, 2021
The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) is committed to protecting the health and well being of our staff, inmates, and detainees who live and work in our facilities. DPSCS, in conjunction with Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), are closely monitoring developments associated with COVID-19. DPSCS is prepared to handle any potential cases of COVID-19 within the state-operated correctional institutions in Maryland.
Updated: Friday, March 13, 2021
Pursuant to the Governor’s order, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) is conducting universal testing at all facilities.
DPSCS is committed to providing accurate data regarding the number of positive COVID-19 cases within the inmate population in its correctional institutions. These numbers are updated weekly on our website.
COVID-19 DASHBOARD
Filters Selecting a filter will cross-filter across the entire dashboard. This format allows for a deeper understanding of trends by the filter selected. You can also select multiple filters for a further breakdown of data elements.
Hover Pausing over a data point on a chart may reveal additional breakdowns for that data point. Try moving your cursor over all parts of the visual to find added information.
Click Some figures in the dashboard are interactive with one another, and once clicked on, will cross-filter with other measures. When a data point is selected, its color will be darker, and other data points will appear faded.
Double-click Selecting the same section or item twice will clear your selection and return the data to an overall perspective.
Control + Click Control clicking the return arrow at the top of each page will clear any selections or filters you have made
Public Data Note: Staff reported tests include both state employees and contractual employees working within the Department’s correctional facilities who have reported cases to the Department’s Office of Nursing, Occupational Health & Safety. The Department tracks reported positive employee tests conducted by community providers as part of its COVID response and facility planning. Test outcomes of non-facility staff are not reported here, but are included in the Department’s state reporting. Totals may differ from facility-specific figures to account for pending and negative tests. Department-administered test outcomes are reported separately. Prior to May 20th, the Department conducted tests of symptomatic individuals according to existing CDC and Maryland Department of Health guidance. Shifts in testing methodology toward wide-scale targeted and asymptomatic testing began on May 21st have begun to increase the number of negative test results within the Department’s records.
The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) is committed to transparency and is pleased to make its Executive Policies and Procedures available online, including those policies and procedures implemented in response to COVID-19. Please click the button below to access and search DPSCS policies and procedures.
Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery
Maryland took early, aggressive, and unprecedented actions to contain and slow the spread of COVID-19. Thanks to these efforts, and the incredible sacrifices of Marylanders who stayed home and practiced physical distancing, we have successfully flattened and lengthened the curve.
The “Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery” has been developed based on the recovery plans issued by the federal government, the National Governors Association, and premier institutions like Johns Hopkins and the American Enterprise Institute; shaped by the expert advice of the scientists and public health officials on Maryland’s Coronavirus Response Team; and tailored to our situation here in Maryland. The result is a responsible, gradual, safe path forward for our state.
Maryland Takes Action to Slow the Spread of COVID-19
With Maryland’s positivity rate exceeding 5% for the first time since June and health metrics spiking across the nation, Governor Hogan announced on November 10 a series of actions to slow the spread of COVID-19.
- Indoor dining. The governor issued an emergency order reducing indoor operations for bars and restaurants from 75% to 50%, effective November 11 at 5 p.m. Bars and restaurants are permitted to be open for seated and distanced service only, with strict capacity restrictions.
- Indoor gatherings. With contact tracing data showing an uptick in cases resulting from family gatherings and house parties, state health officials have issued a public health advisory strongly discouraging indoor gatherings of 25 people or more.
- Travel advisory. Marylanders are strongly advised against traveling to any state with a positivity rate above 10% or any state with average case rates above 20 per 100K. Anyone traveling from these states should get tested and self-quarantine while awaiting results. This applies to personal, family, or business travel of any kind. Marylanders are advised to postpone or cancel travel to these areas until their positivity and/or case rates decline.
- Telework. Governor Hogan has directed the Maryland Department of Budget and Management to immediately execute a period of mandatory telework across state agencies, except for essential direct public-facing services and other essential personnel. State officials strongly encourage all businesses to take immediate steps to expand telework.
- Hospital surge capacity. State health officials have issued an emergency order expanding hospital surge capacity that provides state EMS officials with the flexibility to shift patients to alternate care sites and to add capacity at those sites if the need arises.
- Nursing homes and assisted living facilities. State health officials have issued new guidance for slowing the spread of COVID-19 at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Marylanders should stay home if sick and get tested before they visit. Staff should minimize their contact with large gatherings and communicate early and often about infection control issues at their facilities. Indoor visitation is not permitted if the facility is currently conducting outbreak testing and in accordance with federal guidance on this subject.
