COLORADO SPRINGS — The El Paso County Sheriff's Office announced Friday positive COVID-19 test results for 14 deputies within the office since Thursday. The news follows on earlier updates that all staff and inmates at the El Paso County Jail would be tested after 8 inmates being transferred to prison came back with positive results, then an additional 64 inmates.
Accordingly, the sheriff's office states "we will be making significant adjustments to how we operate the facility to combat this outbreak. We will test and care for every employee and inmate, and provide the safest facility possible under these rapidly evolving conditions."
No inmates are hospitalized as a result of a positive test. Everyone in the facility, staff, and inmates, will now be tested for coronavirus. Furthermore, inmates are being issued personal protective equipment.
A total of 22 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last three weeks. The employees who have been impacted have been contacted by the sheriff's office and "have either recovered and returned to work or are recovering and doing well."
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment defines an outbreak as two or more confirmed cases in the same facility within a 14-day period.
