Forty-six people who are incarcerated at the Cache County jail have tested positive for the coronavirus, the sheriff’s office announced Wednesday.
Two cell blocks are under quarantined after an inmate started showing symptoms Aug. 22, the Cache County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Officials say that 45 of the 46 inmates tested have reported no symptoms, with only one person experiencing “mild” symptoms.
Previous to this outbreak, officials said they had less than five inmates test positive for COVID-19.
“With the current pandemic environment, we have upgraded our polices to better protect our staff and inmates,” the sheriff’s office said. “Masks are worn by staff and inmates at all times. Any inmate who shows signs and symptoms of any illness, including COVID-19 symptoms, are immediately quarantined, and medical testing is initiated before they are house with other inmates.”
Sheriff’s officials say they are cleaning housing units daily, and those inmates who work in the kitchen and laundry areas are required to wear personal protective equipment.
Cache County is the latest county jail in Utah to experience an outbreak. There were larger outbreaks in Weber and Washington counties in July, and one in Salt Lake County in April.
Utah prison officials say 12 inmates have tested positive in the Draper prison, but all have recovered.
There have been no reports of anyone in Utah dying of coronavirus while incarcerated.
