The Todd County Jail is working to contain an outbreak of COVID-19—the first confirmed cases at the facility since the pandemic began.
Jailer Jeff Penick says 11 inmates and one staff member have tested positive. There are currently 131 inmates housed at the facility and 26 working staff members.
The positive tests came from a testing blitz between Friday and Tuesday and Penick says no inmates have experienced serious symptoms so far.
Those 11 positive inmates are being isolated and monitored by medical staff.
Penick says staff members are screened every day and are advised to stay at home if they do not feel well.
The employee that tested positive had been outside the building quarantined with a family member following the local health department’s guidelines, and before being allowed to return to work was tested and found to be COVID-19 positive.
Twelve of the employees at the jail have taken the Moderna Vaccine administered by the Todd County Health Department.
Penick says the jail will continue with measures to prevent spread of the virus in the jail.