All Johnson County jail inmates were tested by the end of the day Tuesday, and county officials expect to know the full extent of the COVID-19 outbreak at the facility in the next 24 to 48 hours.
A strike team from the Indiana State Department of Health completed 231 tests Tuesday, said Duane Burgess, Johnson County sheriff. Some of the 267 inmates had already been tested prior to the strike team’s visit. Nine inmates refused to be tested, he said.
Jail employees who wish to be tested are doing so at the Johnson County National Guard Armory in Franklin along with the general public, Burgess said.
Testing is voluntary, but highly encouraged of all inmates and employees. Burgess does not plan to court-order any tests for inmates and will let employees use their discretion as to whether they need to be tested, he said.
So far, 23 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. As for employees, five of the 32 tested have the disease.
Prior to the outbreak at the jail, one patrol deputy had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has since returned to work, Burgess said.
To remove any cost barrier for testing, the co-pay has been removed for county employees by the Johnson County Board of Commissioners, and for inmates by Burgess.
“I’m trying to head this off at the pass, so I am not charging the co-pay,” he said.
Testing, along with mandatory personal protective equipment and daily health screenings, will hopefully curb the outbreak at the jail, Burgess said.
Employees who test positive are directed to stay home for two weeks and follow advice from health officials on when to return, he said. The commissioners have approved all county employees for up to 10 days of paid leave.
Inmates who test positive are being isolated, Burgess said. Inmates who refused to be tested are also being isolated, since their status is unknown, he said.
Jail staff are encouraging inmates to be honest about their symptoms, and are keeping a close eye on all positive inmates, he said.
So far, the inmates who tested positive have been asymptomatic or have mild forms of the disease and do not require hospitalization, Burgess said. A plan is in place with nearby Johnson Memorial Hospital to transfer inmates if needed, he said.
Medical staff at the jail are treating those with flu-like symptoms, and advising other inmates on how to avoid becoming infected, he said.
Employees are required to wear masks and gloves when they are in common areas of the jail. If they’re going into the area of the jail where positive inmates are being held, employees must also wear gowns, Burgess said.
Inmates have also been given masks to wear, but are not required to wear one, he said.
Between the sheriff’s office’s own efforts to secure PPE, help from the county’s Emergency Management Agency and community donations, the jail and patrol division have enough PPE on hand, Burgess said.
Last month, the sheriff’s office received a $58,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, but costs continue to pile up.
Burgess, like all public safety officials, is keeping track of PPE expenses for eventual reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he said.
For PPE needs county-wide, the Johnson County Council allocated $20,000 in emergency funds to the Johnson County Health Department and EMA at its Monday meeting. The funds are to help develop a stockpile that county employees, local police and fire services, and long-term care facilities may pull from as they face this pandemic.
This is in addition to $20,000 that was directed to the same agencies last month.
