COVID-19 lockdown at Athens-Clarke County Jail expected to be lifted soon

After two inmates at the Athens-Clarke County Jail tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, the facility was placed on lockdown — a measure which could be lifted by Friday afternoon, Athens-Clarke County Sheriff John Q. Williams said.

The inmates were moved to an isolated cell and quarantined, but the lockdown was imposed due to the potential exposure of other inmates and deputies, Williams said.

“At this point, we have had no additional positive tests and expect the lockdown can be lifted as early as this afternoon,” Williams said in a statement.

During a lockdown, the most significant change is restricting outside access to the jail lobby, while technology has allowed jail employees to accommodate the needs of inmates, attorneys and the court system, according to the sheriff.

Williams said the jail’s policy of using masks, sanitization protocols and minimizing face-to-face contact has helped avoid a major outbreak at the jail.

In addition, the jail has a regular schedule of testing and has worked with Innovative Healthcare to provide vaccinations since May.

So far, those testing positive for COVID have had mild symptoms, according to Williams.