Inmate at the York County Detention Center Tests Positive for COVID-19

 

YORK COUNTY, S.C. (CN2 NEWS) The York County Sheriff’s Office reports that an inmate at the York County Detention Center has tested positive for COVID-19. The Sheriff’s Office released the following statements:

The York County Detention Center (YCDC) has confirmed one positive case of COVID-19. Also, one additional inmate has shown symptoms of COVID-19, but has not yet tested positive. The inmate which tested positive was taken to an area hospital for treatment, but has since been released back to the detention center, due to his symptoms not requiring hospitalization. This inmate, and the other inmate showing symptoms have been separated and are being evaluated by detention center medical staff. The inmate which tested positive has been in the YCDC for approximately eight months.

The illness was discovered through normal operational medical safety and wellbeing screenings by detention center medical staff. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is supplying the YCDC with COVID-19 testing kits for all inmates to be tested. Detention center staff is increasing sanitization of the housing units and facility.

It is unclear how a person who has been in the care of the YCDC contracted COVID-19. When an individual enters the facility, they are immediately given a facemask prior to entering the booking area and are asked a series of COVID-19 screening questions. Prior to being accepted into the facility, if a person shows any signs of COVID-19 infection, they are immediately taken to a hospital for evaluation. Once an inmate is moved out of the booking process, he or she is separated in a housing unit for a 14-day medical evaluation. During that time, the inmates are monitored for COVID-19 symptoms or any other medical issues before being moved into the general population. Once in general population, inmates are required to wear masks outside of their cells and maintain physical distancing from other inmates.

“With all of the precautions we’ve had in place since the beginning of the pandemic, it is unclear how this person who has been with us for so long became infected with the virus,” said Sheriff Kevin Tolson. “My priority as Sheriff is the safety and wellbeing of everyone in the community which includes our inmate population under my care.”

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