Big Sandy Regional Detention Center is taking the added precautions to protect the inmates as the COVID-19 pandemic as jails and nursing homes have been places of concern.

For the last four months, keeping the jail clean has been the top priority.

Jail Administrator Byron Hansford recently spoke about the increase on the level of cleaning and that they had inmates doing hands-on cleaning.

Hansford wanted to know if he could do anything else to protect his inmates from the virus, so he did some research and purchased an almost $4,000 ultraviolet light machine.

The machine will be turned on in a jail cell for about 30 minutes while the inmates are out of their cells for recreation. No one can be in the room while the machine is on, as the light is dangerous to a person’s health. The machine is set on a timer and has a motion sensor turn-off in the case that someone were to open the cell door and step in.

BSRDC plans for each cell to be disinfected with the machine several times a week, as well as in detox where they receive new inmates.

UV light has been used to kill viruses for years. There are three types of UV light UVA, UVB and UVC. The first two are found in the atmosphere. The third is blocked by the ozone layer and is dangerous to a person’s health if directly exposed.

While studies are still ongoing on the effectiveness of UVC light against COVID-19, it will still help fight other bacteria.

The jail has yet to have a case of COVID-19 but they are prepared and have empty cells to be able to isolate people if someone would test positive.