Worker at Bristol County Sheriff’s Office has tested positive for COVID-19

A health care professional working at the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office has tested positive for COVID-19.

The nurse, an employee of the BCSO’s contracted medical vendor Correctional Psychiatric Services, developed a low-grade fever around 6 a.m. on March 25 near the end of an overnight shift. Upon confirming her fever, she donned a ppe mask, left the facility, contacted her physician and has not been back since.

Late Wednesday, April 1, she received a positive test for COVID-19. She has been symptom-free since March 25 and will remain away from the BCSO for the time being.

The nurse worked in the Women’s Center and ICE facility before going home with a fever on March 25.

Information provided by the CDC and DPH indicate that symptoms of COVID-19 exposure are most likely to occur during the fifth through eighth days of the 14-day incubation period, which in this case was between March 29 and April 1.

“It’s encouraging that she’s had no symptoms for a week and is feeling well,” Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson said. “It’s also encouraging that no other BCSO or CPS staff members, nor any inmates or detainees, have reported symptoms.

“We wish her a safe, speedy recovery.”

On Thursday, medical professionals are meeting with detainees in the ICE facility and inmates in the Women’s Center to answer any questions about the nurse’s positive test.

Over the past month, the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office has instituted protocols, which include:

· All areas of the facility are being cleaned\disinfected on every shift every day

· Staff members are being screened before entering the buildings; new arriving inmates are being screened before being accepted into custody

· In-person visitation and has been suspended to limit the number of people coming in and out.

Currently, there are no inmates, detainees or other staff members with Coronavirus or showing symptoms of Coronavirus. Any headlines or press releases from political activist organization claiming infections or outbreaks are completely false and reckless.