Baltimore County: Coronavirus Confirmed At Detention Center

TOWSON, MD — An inmate at the Baltimore County Department of Corrections has tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, officials reported Friday night. The inmate was described as a black man in his 50s who is currently in quarantine. Officials said he does not currently have any symptoms.

The COVID-19-positive inmate will stay in the medical unit for monitoring, authorities reported. The unit where he had been housed at the facility is also now under quarantine.

Staff from the Baltimore County Health Department will be working with Maryland Department of Health to trace people with whom the inmate had contact.

"Ensuring the health, safety and well-being of both our professional and dedicated staff and all those at our detention center continues to be our top priority as we navigate this global pandemic," Baltimore County Department of Corrections Director Gail M. Watts said in a statement.

Officials say they have already put into place best practices recommended by federal and state officials, such as daily disinfecting and cleaning of high-touch surfaces throughout the facility; checking employees daily to ensure nobody with symptoms of illness comes to work; minimizing movement of inmates unless it is for medical treatment or bail reviews; using personal protective equipment as needed; suspending visitation; and putting up educational materials about COVID-19 and the importance of hand-washing in the housing areas.

Said Watts: "We will continue to follow the recommendations of federal, state, and local health officials and aggressively adopt public health best practices as we respond to this rapidly evolving crisis."

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