CORRECTION: The Douglas County corrections officer in the story did not have COVID-19, according to a correction issued May 29 by a Douglas County spokesperson to a May 26 news release. The officer was hopsitalized for an unrelated health condition and tested negative for COVID-19. The office was released from the hospital May 29.

# # # 

A Douglas County Corrections officer and an employee of the Douglas County Youth Center both tested positive for the coronavirus, county officials announced last Tuesday.

The corrections officer – the third to have a confirmed case of COVID-19 – was hospitalized on May 26. The DCYC employee called in sick May 18 and did not have contact with any of the youth at the center.

Mike Myers, director of Douglas County Department of Corrections, said there’s no evidence the corrections officer’s case is related to the others at the jail.

“The health and well-being of all our staff is our top priority,” Myers said. “We are anxiously awaiting the full recoveries of each of our affected staff members.”

Brad Alexander, superintendent of the Douglas County Youth Center, said employees who had close contact with the DCYC staff member are self-isolating at home. Families of youth at the center at the time were contacted.

“The health and safety of our kids and staff at the Douglas County Youth Center is our utmost concern,” Alexander said. “We are thankful our employee notified us immediately upon becoming symptomatic.”

The jail has about 500 employees and about 1,200 inmates. The youth center has 142 employees and had 77 youth as of last Tuesday.