Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics the labor union that represents correction officers in New York on Wed, Dec, 22, called on state prison officials to either temporarily suspend visitations or put stricter rules in place as the number of COVID-19 cases surges statewide. The union has proposed requiring visitors and vendors to show either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. Gov. Kathy Hochul December 22, announced that more than 28,000 people in New York had tested positive for the virus during the most recent 24-hour period, a new record daily total, up from 20,000 on each of the previous three days. Officials are watching to see if the more contagious omicron variant will result in a similar increase in hospitalizations. Prisons, like any congregate setting, have seen the virus spread quickly during the nearly two years of the pandemic. More than 7,000 members of the New York State Correctional Officers PBA have tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic, as have 7,995 incarcerated people. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.