Coronavirus in the Yuma County Jail
Sheriff offers details on infections and operations
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - We're getting our first look at how the Yuma County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) is handling the coronavirus pandemic inside the county jail.
On Friday, Sheriff Leon Wilmot released information on cases inside the facility, inside the Sheriff's Office, and within his staff. YCSO also provided details on how YCSO is protecting deputies, prisoners, and the public from the illness.
The Sheriff's Office says it began preparations for dealing with the virus in early March, shortly after Governor Doug Ducey declared a State of Emergency in Arizona due to the illness. We're told YCSO fully implemented those preparations on March 30 - the same day the Governor issued his stay-at-home order.
Those preparations included educating staff on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. The Sheriff's Office also sanitized and disinfected all facilities and equipment, limited the number of non-county employees in its buildings, and practiced social distancing whenever possible.
YCSO says it also took these additional steps:
- Purchased disinfecting fogging systems - now used daily in all facilities
- Provided PPE to all deputies and detention officers who come in contact with the public
- Made masks a requirement in all detention areas
- Provided masks to all prisoners exhibiting symptoms
- Created isolation unit for infected inmates
It appears the Sheriff's precautions paid off. Between March 30 and June 12, the Yuma County Jail has only seen 17 cases of coronavirus. And, most of those infected were support staffers who never came into contact with the jail's inmate population.
Coronvirus in the Yuma County Jail: March 30 - June 12, 2020
| Detention Officers | 4 |
| Support Staff | 9 |
| Deputies | 2 |
| Inmates | 2 |
All infected staff members were sent home to self-quarantine and recover. To date, 8 of those workers have been cleared by their doctors to return to work.
The infected inmates continue to be held in an isolation. YCSO reports both are recovering well.
The Sheriff's Office says it's taking precautions to ensure no more prisoners become infected. All inmates are sent into 14-day isolation, regardless of the status of their tests. Each new prisoner is also given a complete medical examine once they're booked and isolated.
