Public Health has confirmed that 240 adults in custody in Inverness Jail have received the COVID-19 vaccine. The County has been working to vaccinate adults in its custody because of the higher risk people in congregate settings face from the virus.
The immunizations came as Public Health reported Friday that 172 adults in custody at Inverness have tested positive for COVID-19.
Individuals with a positive test are being closely monitored with 24/7 access too medical care. Most people have had mild or no symptoms. There have been no deaths.
Corrections Health has been screening for COVID-19 symptoms since February 2020 including at booking, and before people move into the large, open-style dormitories at Inverness. Staff have conducted daily screening for all individuals for the first 14 days, and ongoing daily screening for anyone who is considered high risk.
Since the first cases were identified, potentially exposed adults in custody have been tested every few days so that Corrections Health can quickly identify new infections. People are then separated from the general population based on their test result. Anyone with significant symptoms is moved into a negative air flow unit. Everyone who works or lives at the facility is also being offered procedural masks.
In addition, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office is taking several steps to reduce the jail census, which has hovered at around 520 people, down about 30 percent from a year ago.
Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese is expected to discuss the outbreak Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the regular briefing with the Board of County Commissioners, along with Corrections Health Director Dr. Michael Seale.
Sheriff Reese said his office is working with the Presiding Judge of the Multnomah County Circuit Court, the District Attorney, the Department of Community Justice and U.S. Marshals on how to reduce the census further.
You can watch the Board briefing here.