The Ingham County Jail has been closed since Friday due to an outbreak of COVID-19.
Sheriff Scott Wrigglesworth says his department has been “playing defense against an invisible offense for quite some time.” A recent positive COVID test for an inmate led to more tests, and out of a current jail population of 290, 60 are positive for the virus. So far, the Sheriff says none have required hospitalization.
“Most of the inmates that have it didn’t even know they had it. They were asymptomatic but got tested due to contact tracing.”
Wrigglesworth says this might be the first time the jail has ever been closed, and it could remain closed for the rest of the week. Three deputies are currently off with COVID, and several others are off with symptoms or due to recent exposure.
Lockups in Lansing, East Lansing and Livingston County are housing Ingham County arrestees for now.