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As nearly 50 inmates in DeKalb County Jail currently have COVID-19, DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox announced Nov. 25 that the jail facility would be entering “Phase 2” of its plan to minimize the virus’ spread.
Since March, 78 inmates have tested positive for coronavirus in the jail which sees an average daily population of 1,300, according to Maddox. Among jail staff, 53 of the more than 650 employees have tested positive since March. None of the cases have required hospitalization, according to Maddox.
Phase 2 of the sheriff’s office plan of action calls for an extended, surveilled quarantine of inmates and a continuation of restrictions regarding inmate movement and access to the facility by the public.
“Everyone in our facility, including inmates, is required to wear a mask at all times and I want to say thank you for the generous donation of facial masks from community organizations, we have more than enough to make sure every inmate as well as employees receive a clean mask,” said Maddox.
In addition to weekly professional cleaning services, the jail will now have supplemental cleaning by jail staff and inmates, and new systems that help automate daily cleaning throughout the facility, Maddox added.
“Following public health guidance and the recommendations of our medical services providers, we are confident that we are doing all that we can to contain the further spread of this virus and to control the introduction of contact with new infections,” said Maddox. “We are committed to the safety and security of the men and women who are in our custody, and to the safety of our own staff who manage the care and security of the inmates of the DeKalb County Jail.”
In late March, Maddox announced enhanced safety protocols to reduce COVID-19 within the jail. Those protocols included closing the onsite visitation center and limiting entry into buildings; temperature checks for everyone entering the buildings, denying those with high temperatures; quarantining and monitoring new inmates for 14 days for symptoms; and limiting inmate congregation for such activities as meal service, commissary deliveries, certain recreational activities, educational classes and faith-based services.
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