Deputy Who Works At Loudoun Jail Tests Positive For Coronavirus

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A second member of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office has tested positive for the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, the sheriff's office said Wednesday. The staff member is a deputy who works in the Loudoun Adult Detention Center in Leesburg.

The deputy, who last worked on April 7, tested positive for the coronavirus this past weekend. The deputy is assigned to a contained control room within the facility. Last Friday, prior to his next scheduled shift, he had a low-grade fever. He followed Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and CDC guidance by isolating himself. The deputy is recovering and currently has no symptoms, the sheriff's office said.

The deputy had no physical contact with any inmates and had limited contact with five staff members. The staff members were all wearing personal protective equipment at various times throughout the shift within the control room. The five staff members he was in contact with have self-quarantined as a precaution but have either tested negative or have no symptoms.

The sheriff's office said it is unclear where the deputy contracted the virus, "but there is no indication that the virus is a result of any contact within the Adult Detention Center." So far, there have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus involving any inmates or other staff members within the facility, the sheriff's office said.

The first deputy who tested positive for the coronavirus on March 30 worked in a specialized unit within the Field Operations Division and had no close contact with the community during the week prior. He has since fully recovered and has returned to work.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has implemented precautionary measures in the field and at its facilities and is working closely with the Loudoun County Health Department and the Virginia Department of Health epidemiologist to prevent community spread.

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The sheriff's office has adopted these measures at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center to protect inmates and staff at the facility:

• The Loudoun County Medical contractor has increased the observation and assessment of all incoming inmates entering the facility.
• A tiered approach has been implemented for inmates entering the facility upon arrest or transfer.
• All inmates are currently assigned their own cell in each housing unit inside the facility.
• The number of inmates in each housing unit has been reduced allowing inmates to practice social distancing.
• On April 6, the facility was disinfected.
• Onsite video visitation has been suspended. Tablet video visitation continues for friends and loved ones. All inmates have access to these tablets. In addition, all inmates get a free 15-minute weekly video visitation with loved ones during the COVID-19 crisis.
• All inmates have access to mental health counseling and psychiatric visits via iPad or in-person in non-contact visitation booths.
• Law enforcement has encreased the usage of Court TV to minimize the number of inmate transfers in and out of the center.
• Inmates still have the privilege to meet their attorneys in the non-contact visitation booths or via a free non-recorded video visitation on an inmate tablet.

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