Due to limited space we are treating every inmate in the jail as if they are positive
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Jail Division for the past year has worked hard to keep COVID out of the jail. The Jail staff has worked hard in fighting something they cannot see.
As we are a 24/7 Facility that can never fully close and being overcrowded by 100 inmates daily, having COVID cases was inevitable.
Currently we have 31 positive cases, due to limited space we are treating every inmate in the jail as if they are positive.
The Sheriff's office today was on a zoom meeting with the Indiana Department of Health , Jefferson County Health Department and the Indiana DOC , and it was agreed that with our limited space keeping inmates in place in the housing unit and limiting movement was the best course of action along with the items listed below.
The following are just a few things that we have increased for the next 14 days.
1. Every inmate in every block received a mask.
2. If the inmate is positive we are limiting movement for the entire block.
3. Every block will have additional anti-bacterial soap.
4. Every inmate brought into the jail is asked COVID questions and temperature checks are done.
5. If an inmate is displaying COVID symptoms they are tested on site.
6. Onsite nurse is doing COVID vitals checks on COVID infected inmates once a day.
7. High risk inmates are being moved to different areas if possible.
8. All staff are wearing N95 and gloves at all times.
9. No outside groups or meetings.
10. Vaccinations have and are still offered to inmate (100% voluntary bases)
11. We are providing additional fluids (like Gatorade) to each of the cell blocks.
12. All Jail staff vacation and time off have been suspended
13. All Jail staff tested for COVID (Staff that test positive will be off for 14 days of quarantine) to help reduce the spread to the inmate population.
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