10 Lake County jail inmates quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19

Ten inmates at the Lake County jail remain in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 in the last week, according to the Lake County sheriff's office.

Lt. Christopher Covelli said that on April 30, a test was conducted on an inmate who was exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. The test came back positive so the inmate, who had been assigned to a section called 4-North, was moved to the medical section of the jail.

Over the next week, all of the inmates in 4-North were tested, and nine others were moved to the medical section or a quarantine area within 4-North. Covelli said all of the inmates who have tested positive are exhibiting either mild symptoms or no symptoms.

Covelli said 4-North is now in quarantine status, which means the 42 inmates assigned there cannot leave.

The current jail population is 434. To date, 78 inmates have consented to and received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, Covelli said.

Since the start of the pandemic, a total of 54 jail staffers and contractors and 83 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19, Covelli said.

COVID-19 safety precautions at the jail have included an end to communal meals. While inmates are allowed to have their cell doors open during socialization times, they are not allowed to gather in common areas, Covelli said.

The jail staff also places new inmates in a "quarantine pod" for two weeks.

Covelli said that, over the past year, nearly 3,000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted on inmates, staff members and contractors.