Things are getting worse

As the omicron variant sends coronavirus cases surging statewide, the virus also has spiked in New Jersey prisons, creating severe staffing shortages and increased restrictions for inmates, including suspended visitation.

About 1,600 of the 7,300 staffers with the state Department of Corrections were out because of COVID-19 in December, and another 450 tested positive the first week of the year, state Department of Corrections spokeswoman Liz Velez said Friday.

More than 6,700 inmates have tested positive since the pandemic started, with 28% — almost 1,900 inmates — occurring since the omicron surge started last month, according to department data. That’s the biggest jump in reported coronavirus cases in New Jersey prisons since fall 2020.

The spike comes despite prisons’ “continued mitigation efforts” that include universal testing, vaccine and booster administrations, limited non-emergency transfers of inmates, attendance limits for group activities, suspension of in-person visitation, and required masking, Velez said.