A recently released inmate at the Clark County Jail was confirmed as positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.
The inmate was released from jail Monday, according to a Clark County Sheriff’s Office news release. The inmate was housed in a negative-airflow cell the entire time they were in custody, according to the sheriff’s office.
Clark County Public Health confirmed 17 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, and two new deaths from the virus. The county now has 185 confirmed cases and 13 deaths, according to Public Health. At least 1,616 people have been tested in Clark County so far.
Public Health is reviewing close contacts for the recently released inmate and will “determine individual guidance for each deputy and supervisor based on individual interactions,” the release states.
Personal protective equipment is worn by corrections staff, the sheriff’s office said. The health department will provide further guidance as it investigates who may have been exposed to the inmate who tested positive for the virus.
Due to health privacy laws, the sheriff’s office said it is not releasing information about the inmate or their current medical status, the inmate’s pending charges, or where they were released. It also said it is not sharing possible corrections officers exposures.
Eleven of the county’s COVID-19 deaths have been to men, and two of the deaths have been to women, even though women make up 104 of the county’s cases. Every person to have died except for one is older than 60. One person in their 40s has died.
There are currently 22 people hospitalized for the virus, and seven people in an intensive care unit. Many clusters of cases had been east and north of Interstate 205, but Public Health data is starting to show increased spread across the county.
Many ZIP codes now have between six to 10 cases and four ZIP codes have more than 16 cases. Public Health stresses that people should act as though there virus is everywhere, regardless of how prevalent it is in one particular area.
For more information, visit Clark County Public Health’s novel coronavirus webpage.
