Mecklenburg jail on lockdown lifted after recent spike in COVID-19 cases

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The lockdown has been lifted at the Mecklenburg County jail after a recent spike in COVID-19 cases.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office said it completed rapid testing this past weekend of all staff working at Detention Center-Central with a total of 22 staff testing positive from the 768 rapid tests performed.

Of those staff who did test positive, all were asymptomatic and reported to work feeling fine and completely unaware that they were infected with the virus.

The jail said it completed all contact tracing to determine potential exposures by those positive staff to other staff and residents.

As a result, the jail has 477 residents in respiratory isolation, including 157 who have active cases of COVID-19 – up from 50 since last week.

The Sheriff’s Office says its healthcare provider, Wellpath, has well managed the care of all COVID-positive residents within the facility, providing high-quality care and treatment.

No resident has required hospitalization or ventilator support and we have experienced no COVID-related deaths.

The detention center was previously placed on lockdown after more than 100 inmates tested positive for coronavirus.

The number of inmates at Mecklenburg County Detention Center-Central (MCDCC) with active cases of COVID-19 continues to rise since the current outbreak began with two inmates on the 6th floor testing positive the week before Thanksgiving.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office Announces Detention Center Lockdown Following an Increase In Positive COVID 19 Cases at Detention Center Central #MCSO #mecksheriff pic.twitter.com/3uhTHA77No
— Meck Sheriff (@MeckSheriff) December 11, 2020

105 inmates positive for coronavirus, 344 in isolation or quarantine at Mecklenburg jail

“I remain grateful for and amazed by the commitment and dedication of the staff at the Detention Center, and of our incredible team of healthcare providers with Wellpath,” Sheriff McFadden said. “These are challenging times for us all. Our residents and their families should know that we continue to do all that we can to care for and protect those individuals entrusted to us. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of this horrible virus is that it can be spread so easily by individuals who have no idea that they themselves are sick.”