EIGHT CURRENT AND TWO FORMER DETAINEES TEST POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS
The Curry County Detention Center has reported that eight current and two former detainees have tested positive for COVID-19. The detainees were tested on September 25, 2020 as part of random sample. Two results were received last night and eight this morning. Currently, there are no other positive tests at the Detention Center that have been confirmed by the Department of Health (DOH). In addition, 28 of these detainees tested negative upon booking into the facility and they have all been housed together. The positive detainees have been relocated to another pod within the facility and the remainder of the detainees are quarantined together and will receive another test on October 1st or October 2nd along with all Detention Employees. The Curry County Detention Center continues to comply with COVID-19 Safe Practices by requiring temperatures to be taken before and after each shift, medically isolating any detainees experiencing COVID symptoms, wearing masks at all times, and screening all staff. Any staff that is experiencing symptoms are tested immediately and sent home to quarantine. Since May, 294 employee and 926 detainee tests have been conducted with 1 test pending. There are currently 181 detainees at the facility, 72 budgeted security staff, as well as 10 contractors. The County continues to work with DOH and at least 10% of the detainee population and 25% of the staff are tested on a weekly basis. The Curry County Detention Center also has in place the following additional protocols:
- Screen and test all new intakes regardless of length of stay and before they are moved into general population.
- Surveillance testing of staff and detainees.
- All new detainee bookings who meet the criteria to be quarantined will continue to be placed in a quarantine pod.
- The detainees will be served meals on styrofoam or other containers that can be thrown away to continue to mitigate the spread within the facility. Curry County Manager Lance Pyle and Detention Administrator Mark Gallegos request the assistance from the public in slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our community by following COVID-19 Safe Practices, wearing face masks in public, maintaining social distancing and practicing good hygiene. This is the best way to slow the spread of this virus, and allow our schools and more businesses to re-open in our community.
About Post Author
