INMATES will soon be able to reunite with their families as in-person visits resume across the state's prisons this month.
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The face-to-face visits were put on hold amid the COVID-19 pandemic and replaced with video call alternatives in late March for NSW inmates, including those at the Junee Correctional Centre and Mannus Correctional Centre.
Restrictions will remain in place with two visitors allowed per inmate for 30 minutes, mandatory face masks to be worn, and physical distancing to be followed.
Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Peter Severin said in-person visits would be reintroduced carefully and safely.
"Correctional facilities are particularly vulnerable environments and we all need to work together to reduce the risk of COVID-19 entering our centres," he said.
"Close to 150,000 video visits have taken place across the state during the past seven months and we will continue to offer these as an alternative to in-person visits."
At the Mannus Correctional Centre, 4272 video calls took place. The prison will have a capacity of 40 visitors per day to ensure physical distancing measures are met.
For Junee, 16,056 video calls were made which registered as 70 per cent more than their typical in-person visits.
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The in-person family visits will resume from Monday, November 23, and Mr Severin said the number of visitors could eventually increase, but visit conditions may also change at any time if an increased risk of COVID-19 is identified.
"I would ask all visitors to please be responsible and not come to a correctional centre if you are experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19," he said.
"Video visits will continue to be available and we encourage parents or guardians to consider whether these may be a better option for children at this time."
"We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and the advice of NSW Health, to ensure the safety of our staff, inmates and visitors."
Phone lines will be open from November 18 for in-person visit bookings.