Marion County Courthouse exterior.
NOTE: Salem Reporter is providing free access to its content related to the coronavirus as a community service. Subscriptions help support this.
Two Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies who worked at the Marion County Jail have tested positive for COVID-19, the agency announced late Thursday afternoon.
When asked if every inmate at the jail was going to be tested, agency spokesman Sgt. Jeremy Landers said he couldn’t provide a definitive answer.
He said the jail doesn’t have the tests on hand and doesn’t know if there will be a supply issue.
Landers said the jail would likely try to test people who are symptomatic first.
He said he couldn’t say what division the deputies who tested positive worked in, but another court official said they worked in the records department.
There are 144 corrections employees.
Landers said after learning about the positive tests, Sheriff Joe Kast notified area law enforcement on Tuesday, March 31. He told Marion County Circuit Court officials the following day, Landers said in a news release.
Last week, Landers said the jail has five negative pressure cells in its medical unit that could isolate an inmate who has contracted the virus.
When asked what the jail’s plan is if more than five inmates contract the virus, Landers said he couldn’t discuss operations of the jail because it’s a security issue.
He said the jail hasn’t gone on lockdown and is still allowing inmates to use the day room. Landers said jail employees are encouraging inmates to practice social distancing.
Have a tip? Contact reporter Saphara Harrell at 503-549-6250, [email protected] or @daisysaphara.
