The Allegheny County Jail is back on a modified lockdown after a rise in COVID-19 infections.
According to Warden Orlando Harper, the announcement was made after consulting with Allegheny Health Network professionals, the Allegheny County Health Department and the jail’s medical services provider.
“The jail had been on a good trajectory until recently with much of our operation restored to normal, but the recent increase in COVID infections resulted in our reaching out to our health partners to determine how best to limit the spread,” said Harper.
As of Wednesday, 91 positive cases were counted and 24 known exposures at the facility among inmates. 29 staff members tested positive, or are in quarantine due to an exposure.
Out of 28 housing pods at the jail, 12 are in isolation status.
A few of the protocols during a modified lockdown include physical distancing. Mask wearing is mandatory for inmates and staff workers.
“Once the number of infections decrease, we can reevaluate and adjust our operations again accordingly,” Warden Harper said.
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