KINGMAN – Two more inmates in the Mohave County Adult Detention Facility tested positive on Monday for COVID-19.
The inmates, currently housed in medical isolation cells in the jail, will continue to be monitored and provided treatment as necessary. The inmates are male, in the 20 to 29 and 50 to 59 age groups and both came into jail custody in late June and are residents of the Kingman service area.
“Both of these new cases appear to be linked to a previous positive case. Both men were in the regular intake quarantine process established to prevent the introduction of the coronavirus to our existing inmate population”, said Captain Don Bischoff. “By identifying positive inmates early, we can mitigate the impact these cases could have on the entire facility.”
The jail has now had four lab confirmed positive cases involving our inmates, the first being in late May. The second Inmate, from early July, has been kept in isolation and has recently been retested with negative results. None of the inmates who have tested positive so far have been ill or have displayed any COVID-19 like symptoms.
“Since early March, inmates and staff have gone to great lengths to prevent the introduction of the virus to the jail. On Tuesday June 30th, all inmates were issued a surgical face mask and encouraged to wear them anytime they left their cell. Those masks were recently replaced with cloth facial coverings and can now be exchanged and laundered on a routine basis”, said Bischoff.
Inmates leaving their housing unit, for court or a visit to the medical unit, are required to wear their facial covering or mask. Since early April, all jail staff have worn masks or facial coverings during all inmate interactions. Jail Administration has assured that all notification requirements have been followed with regard to reporting the positive case with the Arizona Department of Health Services as well as the Mohave County Department of Public Health.
