5 COVID-19 cases confirmed at Lake County Jail

There are at least four confirmed, active COVID-19 cases among the inmate population and one among staff at the Lake County Detention Center, according to a statement released Monday afternoon by Sheriff Donald Bell.

The entire statement follows:

“On October 15, 2020, during a routine medical check of Lake County Detention inmates, a COVID-19 test was administered on four inmates who were exhibiting mild cold-like symptoms. Approximately 48 hours later, we were notified that those four tests came back positive for COVID. The four inmates are all contained within the same cell block and were the only inmates in that particular block. All other inmates have been tested and we are awaiting those results. No other inmates are exhibiting symptoms and the four who are positive continue to exhibit only minor symptoms. One staff member has tested positive and we are awaiting testing results of other staff. Since the onset of the virus last spring, the detention center has followed or surpassed all guidelines given by health officials. With the known presence of COVID-19 in the jail, enhanced protocol has been implemented.”