This post has been updated and corrected on Feb. 1, 2021
Multnomah County is closely following public health guidance to manage the risk of ongoing COVID-19 transmission in corrections facilities. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Corrections Health, in consultation with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and Multnomah County Public Health, has established protocols and prepared for the introduction of COVID-19 in corrections settings. When an adult in custody tests positive for COVID-19, Corrections Health responds with rapid testing, isolation, quarantine and detailed contact tracing efforts.
On Jan. 15 one adult in custody at Inverness Jail tested positive for COVID-19. All adults in custody with potential exposure were placed in quarantine. Following the advice of county Public Health staff, Corrections Health has performed frequent testing of those exposed to identify newly infected individuals quickly. Since then, a total of 81* individuals in multiple dorms have been found to test positive. All the adults in custody with a positive test are isolated as a group and separated from those who have tested negative. Public Health is working with Multnomah County Corrections staff to review all movement of staff and adults in custody over the last two weeks, in addition to an intensive testing schedule and deep cleaning of affected areas.
All infected individuals are being monitored closely for signs of severe illness. So far, only a small number have symptoms, mostly all mild. All adults in quarantine will continue to be screened daily for signs and symptoms of COVID-19, with additional testing planned. There has been no deaths among those in custody.
“We continue to work with public health partners to ensure the health and safety of everyone, including the adults in custody who we care for deeply,” Sheriff Mike Reese said. “We are staying flexible as an agency, continuously adapting to new health measures to reduce the risk of transmission in our workplace.”
Corrections Health employees continue to follow all Multnomah County Health Department recommendations including wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and washing their hands frequently. Appropriate personal protective equipment is used in all clinical encounters, and prior to each work shift, every employee performs a temperature check and attests to a lack of symptoms and COVID-19 exposure.
Learn more about the preventive measures being taken by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office at https://mcso.us/site/covid19response or about COVID-19 at /novel-coronavirus-covid-19.
*An earlier version of this post stated 82 cases were identified among adults in custody. Public Health said that as of Jan. 29, 81 cases had been confirmed. This post was updated Feb. 1 to reflect that.