Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn said that as of 10 p.m. Monday no inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Dunn spoke with members of the Legislature’s prison oversight committee through a video conference call this morning about ADOC’s preparations and response for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two ADOC employees have tested positive. Dunn said one passed the quarantine period and is doing well. The other is still within the quarantine period and showing no signs of serious illness, the commissioner said.

The agency has conducted 43 COVID-19 tests, the commissioner said. Physicians are evaluating inmates on an individual basis to determine whether they need to be tested, according to protocols Dunn said are established by state and federal health officials.

The prison system set up new restrictions March 16 on visitation, movement of inmates and checking employees before admitting them to facilities. Those with symptoms or a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher are not admitted.

On March 20, the ADOC notified counties it would not be accepting inmates into ADOC custody for 30 days. Dunn said the prison system is working to revamp its intake process with a goal of resuming admissions on April 20, as scheduled.

“That will be assessed based on current conditions when we get to that date,” Dunn said. “But right now that’s what we’re planning for.”

The commissioner said facilities are being retrofitted with quarantine areas to allow intake to resume.

Dunn said he knows it’s just a matter of time before an inmate will test positive. He said the ADOC is seeking additional spaces, including the possibility of field hospitals or other alternative sites.

“We have done a pretty thorough infrastructure assessment so we know what each facility’s capability is,” Dunn said. “And admittedly, some facilities have greater capability than others to quarantine in the event of a positive inmate test.”

The commissioner said the system has put in special protocols to protect and monitor inmates who are most vulnerable to serious illness, including those in infirmaries and at Hamilton Aged and Infirmed Center.

“We have a pretty clear identification of those inmates that would be considered aged and infirm or immune-compromised, have heart disease, diabetes, all of those things that are high risk factors,” Dunn said. “And we’re taking additional measures within the prison system to protect them.”

Rep. Jim Hill, R-Moody, asked Dunn if the ADOC was considering establishing guidelines to move inmates who are older or have health conditions to community corrections programs. Dunn said an initiative to release inmates to community programs would have to involve the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles.

But Terry Abbott, spokesman for the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, said the board has no role in the community corrections program.

Dunn said so far there has not been a major problem with staff absenteeism because of the pandemic.

“A lot of folks are pulling together," Dunn said. “I’m very proud of the staff. The staff obviously is one of our biggest concerns.”

Related: Advocates call for Alabama to release prisoners amid COVID-19 crisis.

Related: Alabama prison system’s COVID-19 plan anticipates widespread infection, deaths, National Guard intervention.

This story was updated at 2:08 p.m. to add statement saying that Pardons and Paroles is not involved in community corrections.