MCSO confirms 3 detention officers have contracted coronavirus

May 14, 2020, 4:35 AM | Updated: 5:04 pm

(Getty Images/Tomohiro Ohsumi)

PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that three of its detention officers have contracted the coronavirus.

MCSO Public Information Director Norma Gutierrez-Deorta confirmed the information to KTAR News 92.3 FM in an email.

Information regarding the location of the officers was not disclosed but Gutierrez-Deorta said that steps have been taken to isolate close contacts of those who have tested positive.

Jail detention officers wear masks and gloves while on duty and are encouraged to wash their hands with warm water when working in general housing units, according to Gutierrez-Deorta.

She added that enhanced safety protocols are in place for detention officers working in housing units with inmates under medical observation due to coronavirus testing or status.

The enhanced measures include:

Wearing masks, gloves and protective eyewear while on security walks
Sanitizing one’s hands before touching a face mask
Changing gloves each security walk
Wearing an authorized MCSO T-shirt or polo
Wearing clothes on consecutive days only if garments have been washed
Thoroughly washing hands, arms and face at shift’s end along with changing at least one’s outer layer shirt

Employees are also encouraged to wear an undershirt and have an extra set of clothing on-hand to change into if needed.

Aside from the enhanced protocols, jail officers are required to wear masks only when within six feet of another individual for 10 minutes or more.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Martha Maurer contributed to this report.

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