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Four Norfolk Sheriff’s Office Deputies Test Positive For Covid-19

 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   Media Contact: Deanna LeBlanc
 April 20, 2020


NORFOLK, Va. (April 20, 2020): Three Norfolk Sheriff’s Office deputies are self-isolating at home after testing positive for COVID-19. A fourth deputy, who has not reported to work for a number of weeks due to an unrelated health matter, has also tested positive.

Two of the three deputies isolating at home have been doing so since the onset of symptoms ten days ago. Mandatory temperature screenings before the start of the third deputy’s shift revealed a low-grade fever last week. That deputy was subsequently sent home and has remained out-of-work since then.

The deputies are in contact with the Virginia Department of Health and will remain at home until cleared to return to work.

The NSO’s Office of Professional Standards, in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Health, is actively conducting a contact tracing investigation.

At this time, no inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.

Since early March, the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office has continually ramped up cleaning and sanitation efforts in the jail in line with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the Virginia Department of Health.

These measures include:

  • Constant cleaning and sanitation of high-contact areas of the Norfolk City Jail
  • Temperature screening of employees before starting their shifts
  • Screening of new arrestees before being booked into the jail
  • Placing all new admits in a 14-day observation area
  • Requiring all jail staff wear masks
  • Requiring all jail staff to wear PPE when necessary
  • Established a reserve force of deputies
  • Limit public access to the jail – such as cancelling visitation and volunteer programs
  • Worked with consolidated courts, Norfolk Public Defender’s Office, and the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to reduce jail population

The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office reminds members of the public to adhere to Governor Northam’s stay-at-home order and do their part to help slow the spread.

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The Norfolk Sheriff's Office is a values driven organization
committed to public safety, public service, and public trust.