Pregnant Lake County Jail Inmate Tests Positive For Coronavirus

WAUKEGAN, IL — A pregnant woman in her 30s became the first detainee at Lake County Jail to test test positive for the new coronavirus while in custody, according to the sheriff's office. The inmate was taken into custody Thursday and tested by the jail's medical provider Friday. Jail officials said they learned Tuesday the test result had come back positive.

The Waukegan woman was arrested by the North Chicago Police Department on a Lake County warrant and charged with obstruction of justice and possession of drug paraphernalia. Court records indicate the warrant was issued 11 months earlier after she pleaded guilty to shoplifting in Gurnee but failed to appear in court afterwards.

North Chicago police dropped the woman off at the jail around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, according to a release from the sheriff's office. At an electronically conducted bond hearing, a judge reviewed the circumstances of her case and ordered that she remain jailed unless she could come up with $25,000 in cash to secure her release ahead of her next court appearance.

Around 1:30 p.m., the woman was taken to Vista East Medical Center after appearing lethargic, according to the sheriff's office. She returned to the medical unit of the jail shortly after 6:30 p.m. the day after she was diagnosed with a medical issue other than COVID-19, the disease caused by the new strain of the coronavirus that emerged among humans in December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

On Friday, the following day, the pregnant inmate was going through withdrawal, and her symptoms appeared similar to those associated with COVID-19, according to the sheriff's office. At this point, the jail's medical provider, Armor Correctional Health Services, ordered a test for the virus.

Also on Friday, the sheriff's office announced a detainee had tested positive shortly after release from the Waukegan jail. At that point, no other detainees had been tested for the virus, according to a spokesperson.

Illinois Coronavirus Update April 21 — Don't miss updates about precautions in the Chicago area as they are announced — Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

As of Tuesday, no correctional officers or other inmates at the Waukegan facility have tested positive, according to the sheriff's office. Jail staff continue to work with the Lake County Health Department, it said.

In Chicago, more than 200 detainees at Cook County Jail are being treated for COVID-19, and four detainees there have died.

Lake County Sheriff's Office staff recounted a series of mitigation measures adopted since February to cut down the chances of COVID-19 entering and spreading inside the jail. The measures include housing all newly detained people outside of the general population for 14 days for medical evaluation before they are moved to the general population.

Earlier: Released Lake County Jail Detainee Tests Positive For Coronavirus