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Head of WATCh program near Butte says facility taking precautions to prevent coronavirus exposure

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BUTTE - Organizers of the WATCh program, which provides treatment for felony DUI offenders, say they have been taking precautions to protect its inmates from possible exposure to the coronavirus.

“These are unusual and difficult times for everybody clear that life, and certainly the myriad of programs that we operate are changing in unfamiliar ways frankly by the hour,” said CCCS Inc. CEO Mike Thatcher.

Thatcher denies a recent complaint that the program in Warm Springs has not been practicing social distancing and has admitted new inmates in since the governor issued a stay-at-home order.

“We’ve not had a new intake, contrary to what was suggested, since the end of March and the governor’s directive went in April 1,” said Thatcher.

Thatcher pointed out that Butte’s Pre-release program and the WATCh program have had no reported cases of Covid-19.

“Unfortunately, some facilities have not been as fortunate and have had positive cases. The WATCh – knock on wood – has not and I attribute that to the measures our staff and our nursing staff have incorporated both for the clients and our staff,” said Thatcher.