25 Bergen County Jail Inmates Test Positive For COVID-19

HACKENSACK, NJ — The Bergen County Sheriff's Office confirmed that 25 jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.

News of positive tests at the jail was first reported by NorthJersey.com on Tuesday, when 15 inmates had tested positive. Since, that total has grown by 10, but has been contained to one unit of the jail, according to Public Information Officer Keisha McLean.

The unit has been under quarantine since the inmates first tested positive, and sanitization protocols are ongoing, McLean said. Those who've tested positive have "very mild symptoms" or are asymptomatic, McLean added. None have required hospitalization.

No staff, corrections officers or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees have tested positive.

According to McLean, COVID-19 tests are given to all in custody when they go through intake procedures, and "random" tests are performed for all inmates and detainees. All inmates are required to wear surgical masks, and are provided with two new masks per week, McLean said.

Inmates at the jail have receiving COVID-19 vaccines, which are available to those who request them. Sheriff Anthony Cureton told NorthJersey.com that more than 100 of the jail's 470 inmates have received the vaccine.

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