Inmate who tested positive for coronavirus released from SC jail, cops say
One inmate at a South Carolina jail has tested positive for the coronavirus, and 35 other prisoners have been placed in isolation, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday night.
On Monday, a judge ordered the inmate to be released, the sheriff’s office said.
The man was locked up at Al Cannon Detention Center in North Charleston for about three weeks, after being arrested on a family court bench warrant, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
The inmate was screened for COVID-19 on March 30, and there were no issues with that test and he was classified as an inmate worker, according to the release.
But on April 3, the inmate started showing symptoms of a person with the coronavirus and was “immediately isolated and tested,” the sheriff’s office said.
On Sunday, the sheriff’s office learned the inmate tested positive for COVID-19, and he was placed in quarantine where he is receiving treatment, according to the release.
While the sheriff’s office said it is reaching out to the man’s family, it placed 35 other inmates in isolation as a precaution.
They were also locked up in the infected inmate’s housing unit and will be under close observation for at least 14 days, which includes a daily screening and temperature check, according to the release.
The sheriff’s office said it screens all incoming inmates and they, along with employees, receive temperature checks at the detention center.
A cleaning crew is sanitizing all areas that may have been affected by the coronavirus, according to the release. Additionally, the entire facility will be sanitized by the crew over the next few days, the sheriff’s office said.
In South Carolina’s prison system, there are currently no cases of inmates with coronavirus at any of the 21 correctional institutions, Department of Corrections officials said Sunday. There are 17,828 inmates in the state.
However, there are 17 confirmed cases of SCDC employees who have self reported they tested positive for COVID-19 at the facilities across the state, officials said Sunday. Approximately 5,000 people work at the Department of Corrections.
One employee at South Carolina’s Department of Juvenile Justice, and one other at the Department of Mental Health, have also tested positive for the coronavirus, The State reported.
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.
Since early March, DHEC reported 274 positive COVID-19 tests in Charleston County, second most of any county in South Carolina (Richland County has 298 confirmed cases). One person died after testing positive in Charleston County, according to DHEC.
On Sunday, 132 new cases of the coronavirus were reported in South Carolina, bringing the statewide total to 2,049 confirmed COVID-19 cases in all 46 counties, according to DHEC.
DHEC also announced that four more people died after testing positive for the coronavirus, raising that total to 44 in a month. State health officials described 42 of the people as elderly, two patients were middle-aged, and all but four had underlying medical conditions.
There have been 18,976 combined negative tests at DHEC’s public health laboratory and at private labs.
Symptoms of coronavirus can include a fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing, according to the CDC. Among the emergency warning signs of COVID-19 is trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, and blueish lips or face, the CDC said.
The best way to prevent infection is to frequently wash hands for 20 seconds; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth; avoid contact with sick people and clean frequently touched objects with a cleaning spray or wipe, according to the CDC. DHEC also recommends covering your cough, staying home when sick, and disposing tissues and other items that you’ve sneezed or coughed into.
Free online screenings also can be accessed by all South Carolina residents, by going to scdhec.gov/COVID19.
Prisma Health is also offering free access to medical professionals for those who think they may have coronavirus, The State reported. People experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can go to https://www.prismahealth.org/virtual-visit/ and schedule a free online visit, Prisma officials said.
As of Monday morning, 1,280,046 people worldwide have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 70,356 people have died, while 270,098 recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States leads the world with 337,933 people who have been diagnosed with the novel virus. In the U.S. 9,653 deaths have been reported, including 3,048 in New York City, according to Johns Hopkins.
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 7:57 AM.
