More inmates at SC jail test positive for coronavirus, cops say
More inmates at a South Carolina jail have tested positive for the coronavirus after coming in contact with a prisoner who was diagnosed as a COVID-19 patient over the weekend.
Two other inmates at Al Cannon Detention Center were confirmed to have the coronavirus Wednesday night, the Charleston County Sheriff’s office said in a news release.
The two newest COVID-19 patients were in the same sleeping quarters as the first inmate who tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the release.
The inmates were in quarantine, showing symptoms of the virus, when they were tested, the sheriff’s office said.
The first inmate at the jail diagnosed with COVID-19 was released Monday on a judge’s order.
There was no word if the other inmates with the coronavirus will be released. They are continuing to receive medical treatment while in quarantine, the sheriff’s office said.
One inmate has been behind bars at the jail since January, and the other since mid-March, according to the release. Both are locked up on felony charges.
Detention center officials said they are trying to get in touch with the inmates’ families.
After the first inmate at the jail tested positive Sunday, 35 other men in lockup were placed in isolation, the sheriff’s office said.
They were also incarcerated in the infected inmate’s housing unit and are under close observation for at least 14 days, which includes a daily screening and temperature check, according to the release.
A cleaning crew has sanitized all of the jail, the sheriff’s office said.
Two employees at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Richland County have tested positive for the coronavirus. No detainees at the Richland County jail have tested positive for COVID-19, county spokesperson Beverly Harris 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 Tuesday. There are 17,828 inmates in the state.
However, there are 21 confirmed cases of SCDC employees who have self reported they tested positive for COVID-19 at the facilities across the state, officials said. 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.
Since early March, DHEC reported 308 positive COVID-19 tests in Charleston County, second most of any county in South Carolina (Richland County has 372 confirmed cases). One person died after testing positive in Charleston County, according to DHEC.
On Wednesday, 139 new cases of the coronavirus were reported in South Carolina, bringing the statewide total to 2,552 confirmed COVID-19 cases in all 46 counties, according to DHEC.
DHEC also announced that 12 more people died after testing positive for the coronavirus, raising that total to 63. State health officials described 59 of the people as elderly, four patients were middle-aged, and all but four had underlying medical conditions.
“There is currently no cure or vaccine,” the South Carolina Emergency Management Division said.
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.
DHEC is encouraging people to practice social distancing to help stop the spread of the virus. Social distancing is staying away from unnecessary interactions with sick people and from large groups of people; it also calls for remaining at home unless it is absolutely necessary to go out.
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.
As of Thursday morning, 1,496,055 people worldwide have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 89,435 people have died, while 336,780 recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States leads the world with 432,438 people who have been diagnosed with the novel virus. In the U.S. 14,808 deaths have been reported, including 4,571 in New York City, according to Johns Hopkins.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 10:45 AM.
