Fully vaccinated prisoners will be allowed to have visitors

<p>ANCHORAGE, Alaska &mdash; Alaska will allow prison visitations for all inmates who have been fully vaccinated, the Alaska Department of Corrections said Monday.</p>
<p>Public visitation will begin Wednesday by appointment at all facilities statewide, except for correctional facilities in Anchorage and Ketchikan after spikes in coronavirus cases, a release from the department said.</p>
<p>“This has been a challenging year and we appreciate everyone’s patience and flexibility as we gradually restore our facilities to their pre-COVID operations,” Department of Corrections Commissioner Nancy Dahlstrom said.</p>
<p>No physical contact will be allowed, and face masks will have to be worn. </p>
<p>Lobbies at the institutions will also reopen Wednesday for visitors to conduct such business as funding prisoner accounts, also by appointment. </p>