Chautauqua County Jail

Quattrone said it’s unlikely a new inmate brought the virus into the facility. That’s because all new inmates are put into quarantine for 14 days before they are put into general population.

“It’s likely this was transmitted through staff or providers like mental health,” Quattrone said.

Employees are screened each shift before entering the jail at one point of entry to ensure no one is showing any signs of the virus. The staff is also expected to self-report symptoms and stay home if they feel ill.

To date, the sheriff said only two employees — none who were working at the time — have tested positive for COVID-19. Up until this week, no inmate had come down with the virus.

“We have a great team of doctors and county public health officials giving us guidance on the right procedures to implement,” Quattrone said, noting that staff have been “extremely diligent” in cleaning procedures as well as encouraging those feeling sick to avoid coming into work. “Overall, I think it’s helped keep COVID out and other illnesses out (of the jail).”

The number of active cases countywide, meanwhile, continue to climb likely the result of the outbreak at the jail. According to statistics released Thursday on the county’s COVID dashboard, there were 199 active cases, an increase of 10 from Wednesday’s numbers.

Altogether, 32 new cases were reported, bringing the total in the county to date to 1,793. In addition, there remains 14 people with the virus in the hospital, 1,574 recoveries and 20 deaths.