By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – Update on our story from yesterday about the two Clallam County jail inmates who tested positive for coronavirus.
After quarantining those inmates and others who had close contact, jail and health officials ran tests on several others and some jail staff.
We learned today that all test results came back negative for inmates. A majority of the staff tests had come in as well and so far all are negative.
The two inmates that had positive test results have been in quarantine since the onset of symptoms and will continue to be in quarantine until symptoms are gone for at least 24 hours.
All inmates that were initially tested will be tested again next week.
Original post-
PORT ANGELES – Officials at the Clallam County Jail have just discovered their first cases of Covid-19 among inmates, and several other inmates have been tested and are awaiting results.
A news release sent out on Thursday says that on Wednesday of last week, an inmate showing symptoms of the virus was immediately quarantined from other cellmates.
Shortly after, that inmate’s cellmate presented similar symptoms and was also quarantined.
The inmates were given Covid tests, and the results came in yesterday showing both tested positive for the virus.
Using the camera security system in the jail, deputies were able to determine that a “professional visitor” had contact with one of the positive cases along two other inmates. Neither of the other two have presented any symptoms, but were also quarantined because of possible exposure.
Chief Corrections Deputy Wendy Peterson says testing has expanded to other inmates and even some staff members.
“We’ve actually tested quite a few inmates. Any inmates that had direct exposure or secondary exposure or any close exposure. Just in an abundance of caution, we’re testing all of them. So we’re hoping that we’ll have the results back in 24 to 48 hours.”
Correction staff are now employing so-called “droplet protocol precautions” with inmates, meaning staff are taking extra precautions beyond normal Covid protocols when in contact with them.