7 Employees at Middlesex Jail & House of Corrections Test Positive For COVID-19

BILLERICA – The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office today announced seven employees working at the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction have tested positive for COVID-19.  

In addition, one employee who works in a position located outside the facility has also tested positive.

All those employees who have tested positive will remain off duty until cleared by medical professionals to return to work.

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As part of its response measures, the Office has taken several steps to address situations involving staff including:

• Telling symptomatic staff to remain at home and contact their primary care physician (PCP).  Any symptomatic staff must be cleared by their medical provider and provide documentation to Human Resources before returning to work. 

• While respecting medical privacy, notifying staff members of potential exposures in their working area and told to remain at home. Staff members must be cleared by their medical providers and provide documentation to Human Resources before returning to work.

• Beginning April 3, we will have thermometers, germicidal cloths and gloves available for staff to conduct self-temperature checks.  Staff will have the ability to check their temperatures on their way in, during the shift and before they return home.

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The items listed above are in addition to other previously announced steps including:

• Enhancing medical screening for new individuals entering the facility beginning on March 4.

• Suspending in-person visits for family and friends, as well as volunteer services, as of March 13.

• Offering four free phone calls of up to 20 minutes each for incarcerated individuals every week beginning on March 13. 

• Requiring staff to wear a protective mask for the duration of their shift.

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• Providing masks to all incarcerated individuals who request one.

• Vigorously enhanced cleaning of facilities and availability of cleaning products.

• Encouraging individuals inside the facility to continue to follow CDC recommended steps for preventing the spread of the virus.  This includes frequently washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

There have been no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 involving incarcerated individuals.

Earlier, the sheriff’s office reported on two inmates who tested positive.