VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office report a reductions in COVID-19 positive inmate cases after another mass testing round last Friday.
In partnership with the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office tested 1,532 inmates, deputies, civilians and contractors for COVID-19 on November 20.
VBSO reports all of the tests have been processed and 7 staff members and 83 inmates have tested positive.
That is a reduction in positive inmate cases from the November 9 mass testing, in which five Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office staff members and 104 jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 .
VBSO says they will follow the VDH's recommendation that everyone will be retested on Dec. 4.
Of the inmates who tested positive, 42 are new cases and 41 previously tested positive.
Those inmates have been notified by medical staff and placed in quarantine, where they are being closely monitored and provided any needed medical care. They have also been given an opportunity to notify their friends and family.
The 7 staff members who tested positive include 1 civilian and 6 deputies. They have been instructed to quarantine at home and seek medical attention, if needed, until cleared by a physician and City of Virginia Beach Occupational Health to return to work.
This was the jail's fourth mass testing.
The results of those tests and weekly testing updates can be found here..
As an additional precaution, the VBSO is extending the cancellation of the Weekender Program until Jan. 1, 2021.
"I am encouraged to report that we are trending down in positive inmate cases of COVID-19," said Sheriff Ken Stolle. "I think we are on the downhill side of this outbreak, but we are not out of the woods yet. We will continue working with the Virginia Department of Health to reduce the spread and protect the health and safety of everyone who lives and works inside the Virginia Beach Correctional Center. We care about everyone here - deputies and inmates alike - and we will do everything we can to defeat this outbreak."