Coryell County Jail has first positive COVID-19 test

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

Coryell County has first positive test for COVID-19 in the Coryell County Jail.

In a press release issued by the Coryell County Office of Emergency Management and County Judge Roger, Miller, at 5:07 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, Judge Miller received notice of an inmate in the Coryell County Jail who tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the press release the inmate had recently been transferred from Milam County Jail and is currently in an isolation cell.

Five other inmates were tested, with all having negative results.

Coryell County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Harrell along with Coryell Health coordinated the testing of 100 percent of the inmates housed at the jail, and testing protocols are being developed to test all deputies, jailers, and office staff.

Testing of the inmates began around 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.  

"We have been very fortunate to have avoided the virus in our Jail for this long," said Judge Miller. "I applaud the efforts of our deputies and jailers in screening everyone who has been arrested in the past four and half months. Had it not been for their due diligence, I'm certain we would have had a positive case before now."

The Coryell County Sheriff’s Office also issued a press release from Chief Deputy Rob Atkins, stating that the inmate had been booked into the jail on Thursday, July 30, and was later tested with jail officials receiving notification on Tuesday.

According to the press release, Coryell County Sheriff’s Office staff have been conducting deep cleaning, disinfection and sterilization procedures since the beginning of the pandemic.

“The crews have been cleaning and disinfecting all areas of the jail, from floor to ceiling, multiple times each day since the beginning of the outbreak,” said Coryell County Sheriff Scott Williams.

Jail staff have been screening inmates for COIVD-19 as well to include temperature checks and a questionnaire as part of the booking process.

“Everyone, including employees, goes through a COVID screening upon entry,” said Williams, noting that those exhibiting symptoms or self-identifying as symptomatic are placed in separate confinement areas.

Any subsequent positive cases from the jail or the Coryell County Sheriff’s Office will be reported to the extent allowed under HIPAA protections, the press release stated.