Second SC corrections staffer confirmed to have COVID-19; no quarantine for inmates
A second employee in South Carolina’s Department of Corrections has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, the department announced Saturday evening.
This second positive test comes less than 24 hours since the department announced its first, a corrections officer at Broad River Correctional Institution.
The new diagnosis is a behavioral health employee at offices housed at the former Watkins Pre-Release Center, officials said in a statement. The employee has not been to work since March 19 and last visited a corrections institution on two previous dates, March 17 and 10. On both those occasions, officials said, the person had no contact with no inmates.
He is at home in self-isolation and will not return to work until a full recovery is documented.
Unlike Friday, the corrections department did not say any inmates would be quarantined — the employee has not had contact with any prisoners within the last 14 days. Other contacts are being investigated the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Only essential personnel are currently being allowed into correction institutions, and everyone who enters and leaves is subject to a temperature check.
Across the state, 660 positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported, with a backlog of tests expected to contribute to that total. There have also been 15 reported deaths related to the disease.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
