Coronavirus: 8 Middlesex Jail Employees Test Positive

The Middlesex County Jail and House of Corrections announced that eight employees tested positive for the new coronavirus. Last week, the jail announced that one inmate tested positive for the virus — the person and their roommate were isolated as a precaution.

Seven employees working in the jail tested positive as well as one employee who works in a position located outside the facility. The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office said there have been no new cases of the virus in any more inmates.

The employees who tested positive will stay off duty until they are cleared by a doctor. The sheriff's office said starting on Friday, the jail will have thermometers, germicidal cloths and gloves available for staff to conduct self-temperature checks. Staff will have the ability to check their temperatures on their way in, during the shift and before they return home.

There have been close to 9,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Massachusetts as of Thursday. Governor Charlie Baker said this week a surge of coronavirus patients is expected April 7-17.

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