COVID-19 has infiltrated Maryland's prison system.

There are now 17 people — three inmates, eight contractual employees, four correctional officers and two parole and probation employees — who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to Robert Green, secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

"We have taken strong preventive measures in all of our facilities to protect the health and safety our staff," he said during a Friday afternoon, April 3, news conference alongside the governor and other state officials.

Two weeks ago, inmates joined the fight against this "sneaky virus" — as one state health official has taken to calling it — by ramping up production of much-needed resources in the form of rewashable gowns, acrylic face shields, masks and hand sanitizer.

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These supplies are intended to support communities and health care providers, as well as lower the prison system's burden on the supply chain.

To date, Green said Maryland Correctional Enterprises has manufactured 5,000 face shields and has the capacity to make up to 50,000. Inmates have also produced 4,000 masks and are on track to keep production going as long as necessary.

A hand sanitizer operation was finalized less than 24 hours ago, Green said, and is now in the process of producing 41 cases of 16-ounce bottles with the appropriate ingredients and alcohol content.

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"The individuals that are involved in these work programs are pleased to be doing this work, this service for their communities, their families and their hospitals around our state so I want to thank them," he said.

Green said other measures being taken by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to protect inmates and employees include the following: