Bristol Community College, Sheriff’s Office, make changes due to coronavirus

Various entities continue to make adjustments due to coronavirus COVID-19.

Bristol Community College has made changes to both classes and events.

On March 13 & 14, classes will run as scheduled and March 16-21, Spring Break will go on as scheduled. However, March 23-28 there will be no classes. College departments and services will be open. Also from March 30 to April 4, BCC may move classes online, but that plan is still being determined.

Out of an abundance of caution, Bristol Community College is also cancelling events taking place through April 3 at all college locations with anticipated audiences larger than 50 people.

In a related story:

Due to health concerns surrounding the coronavirus, the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office is suspending inmate and detainee visitation for two weeks starting Sunday, March 15, 2020.

“Although we have no evidence of infection at this point, we must take preventative measures to ensure we are doing all we can to prevent exposure,” Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson said.

Inmate and detainee visitation is suspended at all Bristol County correctional facilities: The House of Correction, Women’s Center and ICE Detention Center in Dartmouth, and the Ash Street Jail in New Bedford. Attorneys and clergy/ministers will be allowed to visit during this time but will be screened before entering the facility.

Volunteers are also suspended from the correctional facilities for the two-week period as the Sheriff’s Office is reducing the number of people in and out of the buildings to limit the possibility of exposure.

The Bristol County Sheriff’s Office is taking several precautions to minimize the risk of infection to inmates, staff and vendors, according to the BCSO. The facility is being cleaned on all three shifts and all vehicles are being disinfected daily.

The BCSO is hoping to resume normal visitation and operations soon.