SAN ANGELO, Texas — COVID-19 has made changes to everything going on in the world.
Businesses are shut down, social distancing is being encouraged and even changes in the way people enter public buildings.
There are now changes to jail protocols to ensure the safety of everyone in the facility.
"Jail is prepared for things like this all the time anyways its part of our inspection process. We have an effective control protocol in place already," Tom Green County Sheriff's Office Jail Administrator Capt. Todd Allen said.
The new protocol details all visitation from the lobby of the facility has been suspended.
Anyone exhibiting symptoms or with a fever of 100.4 degrees or above will be denied access.
Staff, arresting officers and arrestees, entering the facility will be screened utilizing the screening questionnaire suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If an arrestees is shows any symptoms or is running a fever of 100.4 degrees, they will be sent to the Tom Green County Jail Medical Department.
Despite the new protocol there is a way inmates can continue to communicate.
"We are currently offering to free video visits per week," Allen said.
The new protocol was not a hard for the inmates to get used to.
"They haven’t given us anyway problems since visitation got canceled, we did not get any excuse from them," Allen said.
Allen also understands the inconvenience this brings to the public. He knows during a time like this you want to be to able to to communicate with your family no matter what circumstance they are in.
"We do appreciate the public's understanding having to shut down visitations," Allen said "The public has been very receptive and hasn’t given us any problems and we really appreciate that."
If anyone is interested on the new protocol rules or the video visits you can find the information at tomgreencountysheriff.org.