Imperial County Sheriffs Office confirms 12 cases in their facility

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The Imperial County sheriff's office says that ten inmates and two staff members have tested positive for coronavirus.

Last week they began testing the inmates and staff after two inmates began showing symptoms of the virus. 

“We just started testing, we just got the capability to be able to start testing that's when we started showing the cases we had positive,” said Thomas Garcia, chief deputy. 

Throughout the country, the virus has been spreading through jails. Due to the lack of access of they have to hygiene products such as hand sanitizer and overcrowding that make social distancing a challenge.

“What we’ve been doing is cleaning, disinfecting, trying to separate staff and inmate population as much as we can but it is very difficult in a correctional facility,” said Garcia.  

Garcia says the two staff members are Quarantined at home and in stable condition. He says the inmates who tested positive have had mild symptoms. 

“They’re still in their separate housing units and seen by medical regulars as they normally do. The cases that we’ve had have been mild to no symptoms.”

The incarcerated population is more likely to have asthma, heart disease, and other conditions that increase the risk of having more severe symptoms of COVID-19.

The Imperial County Sheriffs' office says they are still waiting for more tests from inmates and staff.