Cook County Sheriff suspends evictions, visits to detainees

The Cook County Sheriff's Office Saturday announced that it would suspend all court-ordered evictions for the next 30 days, and indefinitely suspend visits to detainees in the Cook County Department of Corrections.

Earlier in the week, sheriff's deputies carrying out an eviction encountered a man showing symptoms of the virus. The man was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and the eviction was canceled.

The decision to halt visitations was based on the recommendations of public health agencies, though there are no known cases of COVID-19 in the Department of Corrections, Sheriff Thomas Dart said.

Attorneys and clergy members will still be able to visit detainees but will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19.

The Sheriff's Office has also suspended the Sheriff's Work Alternative Program (SWAP) for 30 days in response to an order from the Office of the Chief Judge Friday evening.