New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Six Bristol County Sheriff’s Office staff members and seven county inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 since May 28.
Five of the six staff members to test positive since May 28 are corrections officers while the other is a classification counselor. The six new cases brings the BCSO total to 40 staff members since the beginning of March. Of those 40, 27 have recovered and returned to duty and 12 remain away from the facility recovering, all of whom are expected to be fine and return in the coming weeks. One individual resigned after recovering.
The seven new cases brings the total number of county inmates who have tested positive for COVID to 39, 24 of whom have recovered and returned to general population. Eleven remain in medical isolation being monitored by health care professionals and four were released as their sentences ended.
Over the past few months, the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office has instituted many protocols to protect inmates, detainees and staff from the Coronavirus outbreak. Some of those measures include:
· All employees were given masks that must be worn inside the secure perimeter of our facilities. All inmates and detainees have also been given masks to wear for protection.
· All areas of the facility are being cleaned\disinfected every day on every shift.
· All staff members are being screened before entering the buildings; new arriving inmates are being screened before being accepted into custody.
· In-person visitation has been suspended to limit the number of people coming in and out.
