Sheriff’s Office employee dies from COVID-19
An employee with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office who had earlier tested positive for the coronavirus has died.
The unidentified employee worked with inmates at the men’s jail at 201 Poplar.
The Sheriff’s Office posted the information on Twitter Tuesday, April 21.
SCSO has learned that an employee who previously tested positive for COVID-19 has passed away. This employee worked with detainees at the main jail. We ask that you keep the family & friends of the employee in your thoughts and prayers. pic.twitter.com/GjdqFO0b07
— ShelbyTNSheriff (@ShelbyTNSheriff) April 21, 2020
According to the Sheriff’s Office, 96 jail employees have been tested for the virus and 31 tested positive. Sheriff Floyd Bonner said last week that 25 employees were awaiting their tests results.
Bonner also said last week that employees and inmates were given masks and all employees are tested daily when they enter all the county’s correctional facilities.
Floyd Bonner
As of April 17, five inmates at the men’s jail at 201 Poplar had tested positive. Capt. Anthony Buckner said the department will release updated information concerning inmates on Fridays from now on.
“These are trying times that none of us have seen before,” Bonner said. “We’ve only had five to test positive out of 1,700 inmates, and that’s a testament to our medical providers, our staff working extremely hard and the health department. We’re doing all we can to keep everyone safe.”
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Topics
Shelby County Sheriff's Office coronavirus Floyd Bonner Jr.Yolanda Jones
Yolanda Jones covers criminal justice issues and general assignment news for The Daily Memphian. She previously was a reporter at The Commercial Appeal.
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