Sanpete County Jail is treating its first COVID-19 outbreak since the pandemic began after nearly a quarter of the 110 inmates tested positive for the virus. (Jay Dortzbach, KSL-TV)
MANTI – Sanpete County Jail is treating its first COVID-19 outbreak since the pandemic began.
Of the 110 inmates, almost a quarter have tested positive for the virus.
Sanpete County Attorney Kevin Daniels said Monday that prison staff are following safety protocols and are actively working to prevent the virus from spreading to other inmates and staff.
“They have been isolated, where appropriate, from the medical needs of people who were positive and affected,” Daniels said. “They have also taken great care to ensure that no one else is infected.”
Nearly a quarter of Sanpete County Prison inmates have COVID right now. At 10 a.m., how prison staff handle their first pandemic outbreak @ KSL5TVpic.twitter.com/afISOnf1ZR
– Ashley Moser (@AshleyMoser) August 31, 2021
Right now, infected inmates receive medication to relieve pain as needed.
Daniels said a couple of inmates are even recovering at home. “Two of these people were released because they were not a threat to the community or a danger to run,” he said.
On Tuesday, Rachel Larsen said her husband called her to tell her he had hired COVID-19, allegedly from an intern.
“I thought I would be safe where I was, but I guess COVID will finally hit everyone,” he said. “He told me they came and tried all the members of his section and made the section quarantine. So they moved other inmates to that area, but he told me that now there are so many sick people that they probably just he’ll be in jail all the time. “
Larsen said her husband, who is vaccinated against COVID-19, has mild symptoms and expects the care she receives to be like this.
“There’s really nothing you can do, but I just hope they’re okay,” he said.
Related stories
Ashley Moser