The state Department of Correction said Friday it will begin offering free video visitation to inmates and their families.

The Microsoft Teams video visits will be rolled out on Monday at the Manson Youth, Brooklyn and Carl Robinson facilities and eventually will be offered at the remaining state prisons. The visits will save families time and money and allow those who live too far away, have no form of transportation or have mobility issues to visit their loved ones, the agency said in a news release.

The announcement comes a day after the unions representing more than 5,000 correctional employees called on the DOC to suspend in-person social visits due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Connecticut. The DOC had reinstated no-contact visits in October after six months of no visitation.

In order to participate, a video visitor must have the Microsoft Teams software application on a smartphone, laptop or tablet that has video and audio capabilities. Eligible inmates will be allowed one 30-minute video visit per week with a maximum of three authorized adult visitors who are on the inmate's approved visiting list. Minors may participate if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and will not count as one of the three individuals allowed per visit.

The DOC website has been updated to include a new "Visitation Request Form," which needs to be completed in order to schedule either a no-contact visit or the new video visit option.

"I realize there is no substitute for in person social visits, but as long as we remain challenged by the pandemic, we will strategize on creative alternatives to keep people connected," said Angel Quiros, whom Gov. Ned Lamont has nominated to serve as DOC commissioner.

Union leaders would prefer the DOC suspend the in-person visits altogether for now.

Union Presidents Millie Brown of CSEA Local 2001, Sean Howard of AFSCME Local 387, Collin Provost of AFSCME Local 391 and Michael Vargo of AFSCME Local 1565 issued a joint statement in regard to suspending visits.

"Connecticut is unfortunately trending upward in terms of COVID-19 infection rates, deaths and hospitalizations. Our state prisons should not be exempt from heeding these warning signs and taking new proactive steps to protect staff, inmates and families. We believe social visits as currently constructed pose a community health risk," they said in the statement.

The DOC website indicates the correctional system has 78 staff members recovering from COVID-19, eight inmates with the virus who have symptoms, and 10 inmates with no symptoms, four of whom are at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in Montville.

Since the pandemic began, 1,686 inmates have tested positive for the virus and seven have died.

k.florin@theday.com