Coronavirus: 6 Bristol County Prison Staff, 8 Inmates Positive

ATTLEBORO, MA — Six Bristol County Sheriff's Office staff members, and eight inmates, have tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Since the start of the coronavirus health crisis there have been nine inmates and 18 staff members who have tested positive, as well as one ICE detainee. Seven of the staff members have been cleared to return to duty, while 11 others are recovering, according to the Sheriff's office.

The numbers released about 5 p.m. were an update from Monday from a release earlier in the afternoon that reported three staffers and one inmate tested positive over the weekend.

The Sheriff's office said the inmates are being monitored in medical isolation, while the inmates in their former housing units are being monitored as well.

The six staffers are three corrections officer, a counselor, a dispatcher and a nurse. The Sheriff's office said one officer, the dispatcher and the nurse tested were last at the facility on May 6 and tested positive over the weekend. All three are away from the facility recovering and are "feeling well."

Two additional corrections officers and the counselor were diagnosed on Monday. One officer and the counselor were at the facility on Friday, while the other officer was last there on Saturday.

"In the middle of this national epidemic," Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson said, "essential workers like those in corrections, law enforcement and health care have joined others at grocery stores, gas stations and others in reporting to work to keep our country going. They deserve and enormous amount of credit."

The Sheriff's office said all employees and inmates are given masks, common areas are disinfected every day, staff members and new inmates are screened prior to entry and visitation has been suspended.