Four Okanogan County Jail Staff, Eleven Inmates Test Positive for COVID-19.

The Okanogan County Sheriff's Office was notified Tuesday that 11 of its inmates tested positive for COVID-19. The inmates' tests were conducted December 3rd.

According to a release by the sheriff's office, testing occurred after an inmate developed COVID symptoms and a staff member tested positive for the virus. The affected inmate was immediately isolated and put into quarantine. 23 other inmates may have had contact with the affected individuals. Only one of those inmates was symptom free and now exhibiting symptoms.

Since the exposure, which is thought to have happened in late November, 4 members of the jail staff have tested positive for COVID-19. All infected staff members were quarantined and the remaining staff were screened for exposure. Several additional staff members were identified as at-risk for exposure and were also quarantined and tested.

Jail staff, Okanogan County Public Health, and Lifeline Ambulance will be partnering over the next few days to test all of the jail's remaining inmates. Those results are expected within the week.

The sheriff's office is asking anyone recently released from the jail who may have been in contact with inmates who were positive to contact Okanogan County Public Health.