35 Coronavirus Infections Discovered In Lake County Jail Outbreak

WAUKEGAN, IL — Dozens of detainees at the Lake County Jail have been quarantined in response to the discovery of a COVID-19 outbreak in one of its housing units, authorities announced Sunday.

The first sign of the outbreak came Dec. 14, when jail staff learned that four inmates in the jail's 5-North housing "pod" had contracted the coronavirus, according to the sheriff's office.

Jail officials ordered tests for the 53 inmates housed in the unit. On Sunday, the results came in showing two thirds of them — 35 people — had tested positive, the sheriff's office announced.

None of those infected have shown symptoms, and all are in good condition, according to a statement from the sheriff's office. Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg ordered the unit quarantined.

The jail's medical provider, WellPath, has increased its contact with inmates in the 5-North unit, one of 12 in the jail, officials said.

After no testing at the jail in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, a round of comprehensive testing at the jail began in August.

Tests are generally conducted on a weekly basis, Covelli told Patch, and more than 1,800 coronavirus total tests have been given to Lake County Jail inmates and staff.

"Inmates must consent to taking the tests, we cannot force them to," Covelli said. "Correctional officers are required to take the tests when they are administered."

Since then, 58 inmates have tested positive at the jail, including the latest outbreak, according to Sgt. Chris Covelli, along with 37 staff members and two detainees on work release.

Related:
All Lake County Jail Inmates, Staff To Get Tested For Coronavirus
Three Coronavirus Cases Discovered In Testing At Jail County Jail
Visitations Again Suspended At Lake County Jail
Released Lake County Jail Detainee Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Thirty-three of those infected are being held ahead of trial. Two have been convicted and sentenced but are awaiting transfer to the Illinois Department of Corrections, Covelli said.

All involved in the outbreak had been held at the jail for at least the past several weeks, according to the sheriff's office.

As part of the jail's protocols for preventing the spread of COVID-19, everyone is kept separate from the general population for the first 14 days of their detention.

The only jail employees allowed to enter the 5-North unit must wear medical-grade personal protective equipment.

According to the sheriff's office, inmates must eat in their cells, are forbidden to congregate in common areas and must wear face masks whenever outside their cell or whenever quarantined due to possible symptoms of COVID-19.