6 Sheriff's Office Employees Tested Positive For Coronavirus

WILL COUNTY, IL — There have been a total of six confirmed cases of the coronavirus at the Will County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Mike Kelley wrote in an update April 17. Several of those who did test positive have or will return to work after now testing negative.

"Through the recommendations of the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Police, I am requiring anyone who has contracted the virus to have two negative [coronavirus] tests before returning to work," Kelley said. "The guidelines state that the individual be symptom-free for 72 hours and then be tested twice within 24 hours."

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The six members of the department who have tested positive are:

• Two deputies from the gang suppression unit who were together on a narcotics seizure arrest
• One deputy and one correctional officer who are assigned to the Will County Courthouse and court holding area
• One correctional officer who is assigned to the adult detention facility
• One court security officer

Of the six people who tested positive, three have or will be returning to work in the next week. According to the sheriff's office, the two gang suppression unit deputies recovered at home and have both received negative tests; they will be returning to work next week. The deputy from the courthouse has also returned to work after having two negative test results.

The two correctional officers and the court security officer remain recovering at home. Kelley said it is unclear where the correctional officer at the adult detention facility caught the virus, because at the time the facility has no other cases.

"It remains my top priority to monitor the daily changes as we continue to safeguard Will County communities and all of our exceptional staff who are on the front lines of this pandemic," Kelley said.

Read more:

• Illinois Coronavirus Update April 17: 25,733 Cases; 1,072 Deaths
• 69 Confirmed, Suspected Cases Of Coronavirus At Silver Cross
• Coronavirus Deaths In Will County Reach 86