Some 125 inmates have tested positive in the last week, and two deaths in that time are thought to be connected, sources say.
A new crush of coronavirus cases is running through San Diego County jails, infecting inmates and staff alike and prompting a systemwide lockdown to try to control the spread of the virus.
“Deputies and medical staff immediately performed lifesaving measures until relieved by fire department personnel,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. “Unfortunately, Alamos was pronounced dead at the facility.”Sources said another inmate remains gravely ill with COVID-19. The systemwide shutdown means inmates are kept inside their cells for up to 23 hours a day. They also are not able to visit with friends and relatives or defense attorneys representing them in court.
All newly arrested people will be quarantined for seven days, and contact tracing is being implemented to identify staff and inmates at risk, officials said. Anyone testing positive is isolated for two weeks. “We’re trying to do our best on the line with what we have,” said one deputy who did not want to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to reporters.
The reported infections have largely been concentrated in two facilities: the Men’s Central Jail downtown and the George Bailey Detention Facility in Otay Mesa.According to an update Wednesday, 41 inmates with COVID-19 were housed at the Central Jail, which held 973 inmates, according to department records. The rated capacity for the downtown facility is 944.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
What we know about the San Francisco patient with first U.S. Omicron variant caseThe fully vaccinated individual returned home from South Africa on Nov. 22 and subsequently tested positive for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
Read more »
San Diego’s Last Lesbian Bar Is a MiracleGossip Grill has thrived for 12 years as the national number of lesbian bars has dwindled to 21.
Read more »
First confirmed US case of Omicron coronavirus variant detected in CaliforniaThe US' first confirmed case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has been identified in California. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said the case was an individual who traveled from South Africa.
Read more »
CDC requires airlines to share data about passengers traveling from southern AfricaThe CDC has directed airlines and aircraft operators to collect contact information for passengers entering the U.S. from several African countries, as concerns over the omicron variant of the coronavirus mount.
Read more »
Google Reportedly Delays Office Return In U.S., Europe, Middle East And Africa Amid Spread Of Omicron VariantThe delays — reported by Insider and CNBC — come amid uncertainties about the transmissibility of the coronavirus' new omicron variant.
Read more »