The Douglas County Jail has no cases of COVID-19 among its staff and inmate population, Corrections Director Mike Myers told county commissioners last Tuesday.

“We are doing everything that we know to do to try to prevent and, if and when prevention is no longer possible, to contain,” Myers said.

The jail’s population has dropped by about 200 inmates, he said. Jail officials also opted against accelerating an ongoing construction project because the “exorbitant cost” would only buy three more weeks.

The jail deployed masks to everyone in the facility last Friday. It is asking masks be used for at least two days before discarding. Myers said the jail has enough masks to stretch its supply to 80 to 100 days.

Myers said the jail has ordered more masks and personal protective equipment, but “I’m not going to count on those until I see them.”

Fifty corrections officers volunteered to work in a quarantine unit should that become necessary. A limited number of COVID-19 tests are available at the county jail.

“We have some bench strength,” Myers said. “Every day (the coronavirus) is not present is one day closer to the end of this.”

– Scott Stewart