Mass. Prisoners Are Making Masks, Gowns And Other Coronavirus Supplies

The scarcity of supplies to protect against the coronavirus has prompted one sheriff to tap prisoners for help.

Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi said 20 prisoners are making masks and gowns at the jail in Ludlow. He said so far, they've made about 1,000 items to be used mostly at the jail, but also for some first responders.

"They [the prisoners] answered a call for ourselves, here at the Hampden County Sheriff's Department but also for agencies in the community," Cocchi said in a video describing the program. "As we're making these protective masks and gowns we're going to be deploying them out to people that need them."