The Alaska Department of Corrections is opening public visitation to correctional facilities on Friday, the department announced.

The opening comes with guidelines intended to minimize risk of introducing COVID-19 to the closed environment, the department said in a news release.

“Our first step in opening visitation went smoothly and without incident, allowing the department to open to full visitation sooner than expected,” said Commissioner Nancy Dahlstrom in the news release.

Visitors will be screened at the point of entry for the virus, including having their temperature taken. Face masks are mandatory at all times, appointments made by calling the facility directly are required, and all physical contact is forbidden, according to the news release.

Visitation may be immediately suspended if the cases start spiking in facilities or communities, according to the news release.

For that reason, the Anchorage Correctional Complex will not be reopening visitation at present, according to the news release.

• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at (757) 621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.