Hamilton County corrections deputy tests positive for COVID-19

The Hamilton County Justice Building is seen on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The Hamilton County Justice Building is seen on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

A Hamilton County Sheriff's Office corrections deputy at the Hamilton County Jail has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a news release.

The department was notified this morning and the employee is now under isolation at home.

The release states that jail personnel are currently working with the Hamilton County Health Department to track all inmates and personnel who may have come into contact with the employee to determine if there was any exposure.

"I would like to reassure the public and those who may have family or friends incarcerated in the jail that our personnel are going to great lengths to follow CDC guidelines and sanitize the facility on a consistent basis," said Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond in a statement.

Since the start of the pandemic, the department has had one inmate, who transferred from COVID-19 hotspot Bledsoe County Correctional Complex, test positive.

According to the release, the HCSO and the health department are currently working on implementing a second round of facility-wide testing to include all employees and inmates, after completing the first round a month ago.

"The Sheriff's Office is continuing to work with health department and Erlanger medical personnel to safeguard the health of our inmates and personnel due to COVID-19," Hammond said. "With the extraordinary number of inmate movements and individuals working inside the jail on a daily basis, we are fortunate and thankful we have only had one inmate previously and now currently one employee test positive to date within this facility since the beginning of this global pandemic."

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