Officials at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail said an inmate and a jail staff member have tested positive for the corona virus.
Two other staff members are in quarantine while waiting for the results of their COVID-19 tests.
The jail emailed the information late Thursday afternoon, and a representative from VPRJ was not immediately available for further comment.
“Upon notice of the positive result, I immediately made contact with the Peninsula Health District, and we are working with them to monitor and test the unit where the inmate was housed, along with VPRJ staff,” said Col. Roy Witham, the jail’s superintendent, in a prepared statement. “The inmate is being monitored closely by our on-site physician and medical staff.”
He said the inmate arrived at VPRJ on July 22 and was quarantined for two weeks before moving to general population quarters.
Witham said all three staff members, one positive and two awaiting test results or “patients under investigation,” are in quarantine.
It’s unclear when the inmate first started experiencing symptoms of the virus and when the staff members were tested for the virus.
“I want to be very clear; VPRJ has adhered to our local health district and the CDC’s guidance since the Covid-19 Pandemic began,” Withman said.
He listed the protocols the jail has done during the pandemic, including daily temperature checks on staff, making staff and inmates wear facemasks, putting new inmates in quarantine, limiting staff and inmates movement in the jail, limiting public access to the jail and cleaning the facility every day.
“VPRJ staff remain dedicated and will continue to follow the guidance of the Peninsula Health District and our on-site physician as we work to treat the inmate, test the exposed jail population and staff, and take steps to ensure the health and safety of our staff and those committed to our custody,” he added.
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