Madison, IN—According to Sheriff David Thomas, on Wednesday, April 22, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department received lab confirmation that one of our jail officers tested positive for COVID-19. The officer last reported for duty on the evening of Wednesday, April 15.
During the COVID-19 screening process in our COVID-19 Checkpoint, the officer was found to meet criteria devised by the jail medical staff and based on CDC recommendations which denied him access into the facility. The officer was immediately sent home without ever entering the facility. The jail officer did not have close contact with any inmates or jail staff for more than 48 hours prior to his presentation of symptoms according to Sheriff Thomas.
The Jefferson County Jail is taking extra precautions to keep staff and inmates safe. This includes all the officers wearing gloves and masks as necessary and all areas are being cleaned often and in accordance with CDC recommendations. They also have multiple handwashing stations available to workers and inmates and hand sanitizer.
The Sheriff has also waived all medical co-pays for any inmate who may present COVID-19 symptoms. According to Sheriff Thomas, officials are screening all new book-ins and quarantining them for 14 days prior to transferring them to the cell blocks.
