CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Fifteen inmates and zero Chesterfield Sheriff’s Office staff tested positive for COVID-19 during a recent round of mass testing, the sheriff's office reported Wednesday.
More than 490 people were tested on Monday, June 15.
"Of the over 200 inmates who were tested only 15 tested positive, all of which were asymptomatic," a Chesterfield Sheriff's Office spokesperson said. "All of the inmates who tested positive were out of areas we anticipated to see positive tests and areas that yielded previous positive tests. No new areas in the jail had positive cases."
So far, 41 Chesterfield inmates have tested positive for the virus.
Seven inmates who tested positive showed "mild" symptoms, according to the sheriff's office.
"This is an amazing testament to the protocols and procedures we have put in place but also a testament to our staff members adherence to them," Chesterfield Sheriff Karl Leonard said. "The proof is in the results that all of the precautions we have implemented.”
Sheriff Leonard also credited the inmates for helping to prevent the virus from spreading to all areas of the jail.
“The cooperation during the testing by all the inmates was unprecedented and noteworthy," he said. "Now that we have all of our positive cases confined in the jail it positions us to get control of this and limit cross-contamination of COVID-19.“
