Sacramento jail inmate tests positive for coronavirus, one wing of facility locked down

For the first time since the coronavirus crisis began, an inmate at the Sacramento County jail had tested positive for COVID-19.

Sacramento County Sheriff’s officials confirmed Thursday that a female inmate, who was housed in the Main Jail’s 7th floor’s west wing and came into the jail at the end of April, was asymptomatic when she was booked. Nonetheless, officials tested her and placed her in isolation for seven days, the jail’s policy during the pandemic.

The inmate’s test results came back positive Wednesday, the same day she was released from custody. She was released, officials said, after being given a medical plan and officials were assured that she had housing.

“She was not exposed to any other inmates,” Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Sgt. Tess Deterding said, adding “in an abundance of caution, I understand they have locked down that floor — but that’s not because they believe there’s any chance of a spread.”

The Sheriff’s Office had taken great pride in the fact that, until Wednesday, no inmates or staff at the Main Jail or Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center had tested positive for the virus.

As recently as Wednesday, Sheriff Scott Jones had boasted on Facebook of having virus-free jails as he called for an easing of stay-at-home orders in a region that has more than 1,500 confirmed infections and at least 75 people who have died from the virus’ effects.

Jones’ office initially released 120 inmates to make room at both jails in the event of an outbreak. A court order later required him to release another 421 inmates. Counting others released on zero bail, Jones estimated 1,100 inmates have been released because of the pandemic.

Jails and prisons nationwide have been grappling without outbreaks of COVID-19, which spreads rapidly though such confined, crowded spaces. Inmate advocates have for weeks urged officials to release prisoners to lessen the threat of an outbreak among many inmates.

“The fact that the jail is reporting its first confirmed coronavirus positive test now, after weeks of trying to avoid infection, shows that no plan is foolproof,” the federal Defender’s Office said in a statement. “The Sacramento County Main Jail, like the rest of this country, is under threat from this virus, and will continue to be for a long time.

“The question is not if contagion will get into jails and prisons, but when. It’s for this reason that we continue to advocate for clients who can and should be safely released to shelter in place at home.”

This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 3:35 PM.