Sheriff Reports 6 New Coronavirus Cases In Tuscaloosa County Jail

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy confirmed to Patch on Monday that six inmates in the Tuscaloosa County Jail are in quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus, which comes amid fears of a new nationwide surge.

Abernathy pointed out that the six cases were identified last week and it had been months since any new coronavirus cases had been identified in the jail prior to the recent uptick, which also follows similar trends in the surrounding community. While no specifics or numbers were given on contact tracing, the sheriff said the jail continues to maintain an observation and quarantine area, which marks no departure from longstanding protocols in the jail.

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While six total cases is a far cry from when Abernathy self-reported a 39% positivity rate among inmates in the jail in December, overcrowding by state inmates in the jail could pose immediate problems if the Alabama Department of Corrections does not alleviate the strain on space.

As of Monday, Abernathy reported a total of 754 inmates being housed in the county jail — 140 of whom are ADOC inmates waiting to be moved to other facilities. This is a worrisome statistic when considering social distancing, as the jail's current on-paper capacity, according to the sheriff, is 540 inmates.

To combat the spread, the sheriff's office has gone to very public lengths to assure the community it is doing all it can, including upgrading technology in the jail to allow for easier communication with the outside world. But as seen in institutions at all levels throughout the pandemic, best-laid plans can go only so far in combating an invisible enemy like the coronavirus.

ALSO READ: Tuscaloosa Lawmaker Calls For Leadership Changes In ADOC, Pardons & Paroles

"Protocols are still in place relevant to masks available to inmates," Abernathy said. "We will continue to monitor the situation and act as directed by medical staff within the jail."

Other additions inside the jail include a stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) for inmates and staff, new commercial laundry appliances and one-way email access to inmates, providing an additional avenue of communication for loved ones.

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