Coronavirus Outbreak Infects 16 Inmates At King County Jail

SEATTLE — At least 16 inmates tested positive for the coronavirus at the King County Correctional Facility over the weekend, leading to dozens placed into quarantine or transferred to medical isolation, according to the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention.

In a news release, the DAJD said Sunday marked the first time an inmate had contracted the virus inside a King County jail, testing positive more than a month after arriving. Officials said the jail was working with Public Health - Seattle & King County and taking "aggressive steps to isolate, trace, and decontaminate."

Before the weekend, DAJD said 47 cases had been confirmed across the jail system since the pandemic began, and all infections were believed to have occurred outside the facilities.

"This is the first time we have confirmed cases of COVID-19 from coronavirus exposures that occurred within our jails," officials wrote. "Public Health contact tracers are working to identify any inmates, staff or visitors who may have had close contact with the recently identified cases among our in-custody population."

Officials said the 16 inmates who tested positive were taken to the Maleng Regional Justice in Kent and placed in medical isolation and at least 54 inmates are now in quarantine at the Seattle jail.

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The person who received the initial diagnosis was kept in a wing that houses inmate workers, and jail staff decontaminated the area, along with any hallways, elevators and transport vehicles that may have been used.

The DAJD said the outbreak was another sign of rapidly accelerating coronavirus transmission in the community, rather than a lapse in existing precautions. Officials said the inmate population has been reduced by about 500 since the year began, strict physical distancing measures are in place, and all inmates have been tested or required to quarantine upon arrival since October.

Additional steps DAJD identified in the wake of the outbreak include:

• Contact tracing and resources for staff.
• Reaching out to our partners in the legal community and law enforcement who may have had contact with any of the infected individuals in our custody.
• Ensuring that staffing and operations continue smoothly.
• Reviewing our protocols for improvements going forward.

Review the latest available data on COVID-19 in King County jails on the DAJD dashboard.