Arlington Detention Center Inmate Tests Positive For COVID-19

ARLINGTON, VA — An inmate in the Arlington County Detention Center has tested positive for COVID-19, the illness associated with the new coronavirus, according to a county release. ACDC's medical contractor will monitor and manage the symptoms of the inmate, who is doing well.

As this is the first case of COVID-19 to occur in the ACDC, the Arlington County Sheriff's Office is taking a number of precautions to protect the health of all those who are incarcerated. In consolation with the Public Health officials, the Sheriff's Office has begun contact tracing of the inmate to identify who he has been in contact with, in order to stem the spread of the disease. ACSO and Public Health officials will monitor the inmate's condition and initiate any necessary measures should other inmates of Sheriff's Office staff display symptoms.

In March, ACSO initiated the following protocols, taken verbatim from the release, in accordance with Virginia Department of Health guidelines to ensure the safety of its staff, the Courthouse, the public, and those in its custody:

• Daily temperature checks and symptom screenings of all staff that enter the Detention Center and Courthouse
• Daily temperatures and symptom screenings of all individuals in our custody.
• Initial medical screening of arrestees.
• Daily cleaning, in addition to the regularly scheduled cleanings, of areas in the Arlington County Detention Facility (ACDF) and Courthouse with the Electro Static Sprayer.
• Redesign of Intake Units:
  • We have created new procedures for the Intake Housing for all inmates entering the facility. Due to our inmate population being low, it has given us flexibility to ensure inmates coming into custody are housed separate from general population for 14 days to ensure no possible COVID symptoms.
• Suspension of staff roll calls to adhere to social distancing guidelines by the CDC.
• Staff that are able to telework, are being given the opportunity to do so.
• Staff are provided personal protective equipment to wear when social distancing is not possible, to include masks, gloves, goggles, and gowns as appropriate.
• All individuals in our custody have been provided cloth face coverings to wear when they are out of their cells.
• Meals are served in disposable trays.
• Inmate movement throughout the facility is minimized.
• In-person visitation has been cancelled however inmates have been given two free phone calls a week.
• Video visitation is being conducted via iPads.
• Programs have been cancelled.
  • Inmate Service Counselors are providing classes and activities.
• Sheriff’s Office and the Courts have been working together to modify procedures in order to lessen the interaction between individuals, maintain social distancing guidelines, and to follow the stay at home orders issued in Maryland, DC and Virginia.

“These steps have and will continue to be modified regularly in order to best manage the COVID-19 Virus," Sheriff Beth Arthur said, in the release. "The Arlington County Sheriff’s Office takes the health and welfare of our staff, the public and those placed into our custody in the highest regard."