Towns Detention Center inmate tests positive, officers under quarantine

Health, News, Police & Government
Towns County Detention Center Inmate

TOWNS COUNTY, Ga – COVID-19 has flared up in Towns County Detention Center with one inmate testing positive on April 21 and four officers quarantining themselves.

Towns County Sheriff’s Office listed a timeline of events on their Facebook page on April 24 detailing procedures since the initial government shutdown.

On April 19, an inmate was transported to Union General Hospital for treatment, and on April 21, the sheriff’s office received confirmation that the inmate had tested positive for COVID-19.

“All Sheriff’s Office personnel who were tasked with providing security on him at the hospital were provided with PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) to use during their assigned shifts and reminded to practice the recommended 6-foot buffer zone,” stated Towns Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Clinton

Towns County Sheriff’s Office released details concerning positive COVID-19 inmate.

Law enforcement also consulted with the health department to follow COVID-19 protocols, which as of April 11 state that any essential worker potentially exposed to the virus can continue to work if not exhibiting symptoms, wear a facemask, and maintain six feet of distance from all coworkers.

Officers exposed to the confirmed inmate case are considered low risk by the health department if they followed CDC and Georgia Public Health Department guidelines. However, officers displaying COVID-19 symptoms move into the high-risk category.

On April 23, the detention center was sanitized by a company approved by the Georgia Sheriff’s Association, while sheriff’s administrative office received cleaning on April 24 from County Emergency Management.

According to the sheriff’s office, the jail inmate area is cleaned three times daily since March 16. Also, all incoming inmates and detention center staff are screened for COVID-19.

Also, two detention center officers received COVID-19 testing on April 23 after experiencing mild symptoms. They are awaiting results while quarantining at home.

On April 24, two more officers were presenting symptoms and are in quarantine. One individual has taken the test, and the other is awaiting approval to take it.

According to the sheriff’s office, health department personnel explained that only law enforcement individuals with COVID-19 symptoms will receive a test.

The statement ended with, “The Sheriff’s Office has and will continue to take all recommended precautions and guidelines from the health department, GEMA, and CDC to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to the community, inmates, and staff.”

Fetch Your News will update this story as more information becomes available.

Towns County jail procedures amended due to COVID-19

News, Press Release
Towns County Jail - virus -COVID19

PRESS RELEASE from the Towns County Sheriff’s Office:

YOUNG HARRIS. Ga. – The Towns County Sheriff’s Office in response to President Trump declaring a “State of Emergency” and Georgia Governor Kemp declaring a “Public Health State of Emergency” has amended the Sheriff’s Office daily operation plans. The operation plans were revised on Friday, March 13, and continue to be revised and updated as recommendations are made.

The following are the major amended changes to the
Sheriff’s Office daily operation plans:

Inmate Visitation: All inmate visitations has been
canceled until further notice.
Religious Services: All services within the jail involving
contact with outside subjects are canceled until further
notice. Inmates will continue to be able to obtain religious
materials within the jail.
Jail Sanitation: All inmate areas normally cleaned twice
daily will be cleaned three times daily.
General Facility Sanitation: All general areas of the jail
and Sheriff’s Office will be kept in a high state of
environmental cleanliness.
Applicant Fingerprints: All applicant fingerprints are
suspended until further notice.
Access to ATM Machines: Access to the ATM machine
in the Jail has been restricted. Family and friends can still
deposit money into an inmate’s commissary and phone
accounts by using the means shown below:

To Purchase Inmate Phone Time
1. Inmate phone time can be purchased by visiting
www.inmatesales.com or by calling 1-877-998-5678.
2. We also have an inmate Phone ATM in the Bonding
Window area outside the facility that accepts cash,
debit cards, and credit cards.

To Deposit Money Into An Inmate’s Commissary Fund

1. Deposits may be made into an inmate’s commissary
fund by visiting
https://deposits.jailatm.com/WebDeposits/.
2. Deposits may also be made by calling 1-877-810-0914
and following the prompts.

Screening Arrestees: All arrestees brought to the jail are
being screened for symptoms of the Covid19 Virus.
Screening Staff: All staff members are being closely
screened for symptoms of the Covid19 Virus.
Facility Deliveries: The method of receiving deliveries to
the Sheriff’s Office and Jail has been modified to restrict
contact with delivery personnel.

Informational Updates: Staff transmitting and receiving
informational updates and recommendations in reference to
the Covid19 Virus will be using webinars, phone
conferences, and email avenues to exchange information to
reduce physical contact to reduce the spread of the virus.
On-Line Audio/Visual Meeting: The Sheriff’s Office has
just recently implemented a program to host meetings with
County department heads, and other agencies, on-line
through the internet to discuss public safety issues and
other concerns as necessary therefore limiting physical
contact as means of preventing and reducing possible
exposure to the virus.
Six (6) Foot Buffer: All staff members have been
instructed to try to maintain a 6-foot buffer zone between
themselves and others they encounter while performing
their duties.
Personal Hygiene: Staff has been instructed to use proper
hygiene practices, washing hands after any contact with
another person.

Calls for Service: Uniform Patrol will handle any non-
emergency calls for service by phone as situations dictate,
i.e. general questions of an officer by the public. All
emergency calls for service will be responded to
immediately.
Medical Attention: Any inmate or staff member who
experiences symptoms related to the Covid19 virus will be
given immediate medical attention.
The Sheriff’s Office will be taking any and all precautions
to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to inmates and staff
as well.
The spread of the Covid19 Virus across the United States
as well as other Countries is new ground that first
responders have not experienced before. We will be acting
according to recommendations that will be coming down
and updated daily.

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