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County jail has had 0 cases among inmates

The Marshall County Jail has managed to prevent cases of COVID-19 among inmates since the pandemic began in March.

Corrections facilities in Iowa — such as the Anamosa State Penitentiary — have been locations of prime COVID-19 spread. There have been 819 cases among inmates at the penitentiary. The Linn County Jail had six cases.

“We have been exceptionally fortunate in Marshall County,” Sheriff Steve Hoffman said. “We have had no positive cases in an inmate.”

The jail has transferred 50 inmates to state custody and each transfer has a test requirement.

“It has not been an exciting COVID environment, which has been a blessing for us,” he said.

Hoffman said all of the jail staff have taken the pandemic seriously since the beginning. Many measures were implemented to ensure the protection of everyone in the Marshall County Jail. Outside programs were eliminated, only essential personnel were allowed inside, staff wear masks and shields and new inmates are quarantined for two weeks before being transferred to general population.

The building also has an excellent air flow system which turns over multiple times every hour, he said.

Outside of the roughly 120 inmate jail population, there have been a small number of staff who tested positive and some who have developed symptoms caused by other illnesses, such as allergies.

“Our policy is that if anyone is showing a symptom of illness, they do not show up for work,” Hoffman said. “We also take their temperatures.”

In the event an inmate does contract the COVID-19 virus, procedures are in place.

“We have individual cells to allow a prisoner to remain in the facility if appropriate,” Hoffman said.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.

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