GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — More than two dozen people have been infected with COVID-19 at the Josephine County jail in southern Oregon, authorities said.
Josephine County Undersheriff Travis Snyder said Tuesday in a news release the outbreak at the jail in Grants Pass was discovered last week after some inmates reported flu-like symptoms.
The individuals were separated from the general population and tested for COVID-19 with six positive cases as of last Friday, he said.
The county Public Health Department was notified and a plan was formulated to test the entire jail population and staff with rapid tests. The jail was then notified of 19 additional positive results, according to the sheriff's office.
On Tuesday, all adults in custody and staff present were tested again using rapid tests, which returned five additional positive results.
At the recommendation of public health officials, everyone in the jail will be tested again next week, according to Snyder.
The facility has been placed on modified programs until containment and treatment can be verified to decrease the further chances of exposure, he said.