The Daviess County Detention Center has been working to keep its inmates and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been treating every intake as though they have tested positive for the coronavirus.
This has been a step-by-step process according to Jailer Art Maglinger, who said each individual is given personal protective equipment, medical screening, temperature checks, and mandated 14-day quarantine before being allowed into the general population.
Jails and prisons are more vulnerable to COVID-19 because of the shared space and close quarters between inmates who reside at these facilities.
At DCDC, Maglinger has only had one deputy test positive so far, and no inmates have received a positive result.
One individual who was at the jail for an hour-and-a-half during the intake process was released and sent home. That individual tested positive for COVID-19, Maglinger said, but was not placed in a cell and did not come into contact with other inmates.
All individuals coming into DCDC are now placed in self-quarantine cells. Maglinger said those who show symptoms of COVID-19 are then placed in self-isolation cells.
“The population here is down right now, so we can use the isolation cells,” Maglinger said. “We’re trying to limit the spread and protect everyone here the best we can.”
The jail has been on top of the coronavirus spread since late February, and they began deep-cleaning the facility in early March. Many programs have been suspended and public visitation is temporarily halted. The jail has been providing video visitations for inmates as a temporary replacement. Approximately 5,000 virtual visitations were made in just one weekend after the new video system went live on March 20.
Though Maglinger said he and his staff “aren’t out of the woods yet” with this virus, he’s pleased to report that the deputy who’d tested positive for COVID-19 is recovering.
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The Owensboro Health coronavirus hotline is available 24/7 by calling 877-888-6647. Call the hotline before seeking in-person care. More information from OH can be found here.
For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.
