HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Three inmates at Henrico County’s Jail West have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 after six inmates were tested over the weekend following complaints of mild symptoms.
As a result of the diagnosis, 79 additional inmates and more than 80 members of the jail’s staff will be tested for the coronavirus.
The cases are the first ones reported in Henrico’s jails.
The three male inmates who tested positive Sunday continue to experience mild symptoms, such as a low-grade fever or malaise. Two were committed to the jail June 19 and June 24. After passing an initial screening for COVID-19, the inmates were housed with other new inmates whose assigned cells have access to a shared dayroom.
The six inmates tested over the weekend are being quarantined in single-bed cells and the remaining 79 inmates will continue to be isolated from the jail’s general population until they have tested negative and are symptom-free for at least 14 days.
Based on the results of the upcoming tests, those inmates may be divided into smaller groups to further limit the potential spread of the virus.
The precautions at Henrico’s jails include:
- Screening all inmates, jail staff and contractors for potential symptoms before they enter the facilities
- Enhanced cleaning and sanitization of dayrooms and other common areas
- Providing face coverings to all inmates
- Isolating as a group all inmates whose screenings indicate possible exposure
- Isolating as a group all new inmates for at least 14 days before introducing them into the general population.
