All Lake County Jail Inmates, Staff To Get Tested For Coronavirus

WAUKEGAN, IL — All detainees, staff and contractors at Lake County Jail will be tested for the coronavirus at least once under a new protocol announced Monday. The policy follows the first round of comprehensive testing of jail employees, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Last month, an off-duty jail guard had himself tested for the coronavirus after he began experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. The test came back positive and he did not return to work for 14 days. Jail administrators decided to test everyone — regardless of symptoms — as a preventative measure, according to the sheriff's office.

Nearly 140 tests were conducted on staff, and asymptomatic coronavirus infections were detected two additional correctional officers and one administrative assistant earlier this month. All three were placed on quarantine for 14 days, according to the statement from the office of Lake County Sheriff John Idelburg.

“I view it as a top-priority to keep my employees as safe and healthy as possible, as well as the inmates in the jail who we are responsible to protect," Idleburg said, announcing the new procedures. "Overall, our mitigation efforts have proven to be successful and we look forward to the ongoing increased testing in our facility.”

A total of six Lake County Jail inmates, nine correctional officers and the administrative assistant have tested positive since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. All the inmates have recovered after being infected in April and all correctional officers are back to work, according to Sgt. Chris Covelli, sheriff's office spokesperson.

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Idleburg and his administrative team have been working closely with the Lake County Health Department to craft a coronavirus mitigation plan, according to the statement from his office. The health department will provide testing to all workers and detainees who enter the jail, it said. There are currently 508 inmates at Lake County Jail.

Covelli said sheriff's office and health department officials would determine how much future testing might be necessary. The new round of testing began Monday and is expected to be complete by the end of the week, he said.

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In Cook County, there are 19 jail detainees who are currently positive for the COVID-19 virus and 518 who are negative but being monitored at a recovery facility at Cook County Jail after previously testing positive as of Sunday evening. Seven detainees in the Cook County Department of Corrections have died at local hospitals.

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There are also 38 sheriff's office employees who have active coronavirus cases and 464 employees who have previously tested positive but returned to work after recovering, the Cook County Sheriff's Office reported. Four sheriff's office employees have died of complications of COVID-19 infections.