'Zero' Inmates Test Positive For Coronavirus In County Jails

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Despite a surge in COVID-19 across Suffolk County, Sheriff Errol Toulon said on Friday that zero inmates in both county jails have tested positive for the coronavirus.

The last positive inmate case was on December 8, Toulon said.

Toulon said he was proud of how hard his staff had worked to keep both the staff and inmates safe during the recent dramatic uptick in cases.

“In my over 30 years of law enforcement experience, I have seen firsthand how quickly infectious diseases can make their way through the correctional system," he said. "Since the start of this pandemic, my goal was to implement as many protections as possible to keep our staff and inmates as safe."

Despite Suffolk County having a daily positivity rate of almost 14 percent this week, the correctional facilities had zero cases, he said. "We are doing very well under these very stressful and difficult circumstances," he said.

Toulon said he and his staff had implemented stringent procedures to create physical distance between incoming inmates and the general jail population.

All inmates are housed in a reception area for 14 days upon entry into the jail and monitored often for signs of illness, Toulon said. They are also given appropriate cleaning supplies, he said. Any inmate who is sent to the hospital or an outside facility is also required to quarantine. All inmates in quarantine must test negative to be moved back to general population, Toulon said.

Also, Toulon said, Suffolk County Correctional Facility inmates are issued two washable face masks that are laundered and replaced as needed. Inmates are required to wear masks whenever they are out of their cells.

"To date, we have produced over 42,000 of these cloth masks in house through the inmate sewing program," he said.

In addition, staff members continue to follow strict precautions — all have temperatures taken upon entering the building and must wear face coverings, regardless of vaccination status. Lineups are suspended and officers report directly to their posts to avoid crowding, Toulon said. The officer cafeteria remains open for meals but there is no seating; officers take their meals back to their posts. The officer fitness center is open on a strict schedule with frequent sanitizing periods, Toulon said.

Inmate visiting is currently taking place, though all visits are non-contact booth visits, regardless of vaccination status. Inmates and their visitors must wear masks and the visitation booths are sanitized after each visiting session. The same policy applies for attorney visits, Toulon said.