SEDGWICK COUNTY —After an inmate working in the kitchen at the Sedgwick County jail tested positive for coronavirus this month, the jail started mass COVID-19 testing of the inmate population of over 1500 inmates.
This testing was based on the recommendation of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The contracted medical provider of the detention facility along with the assistance of the local health department collected tests over a 5 day period, according to Sgt. Tim Myers.
During this 5 day period, approximately 60 inmates per day were being booked into or released from the detention facility. Some of the inmates tested were released from the facility prior to receiving the results of their submitted tests. As of August 20, 523 inmates tested positive for COVID-19, while 747 inmates have tested negative. Some of the positive cases had previously been reported on the Sedgwick County Dashboard. On August 20, the following information was added to the dashboard:
469 positive cases from the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility
700 negative cases from the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility
As results were received, inmates were separated and housed based on the results of their tests to minimize the spreading of COVID-19. Inmates that have reported symptoms of COVID-19 have received treatment from the contracted medical provider. No inmates have required hospitalization because of testing positive for COVID-19, according to Myers.
Based on the CDC recommendations, non-symptomatic positive cases are considered recovered 10 days post-test. It is estimated approximately 400 inmates will be considered recovered by the end of the weekend.