Nurse at Bristol County House of Corrections tests positive for Covid-19

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office has announced that one of the health care professionals working at the office has tested positive for Covid-19.

According to an April 2 press release from the Sheriff’s Office, the nurse, an employee of the office’s contracted medical vendor Correctional Psychiatric Services, developed a low-grade fever around 6 a.m. on March 25 near the end of an overnight shift. 

She had been working at the Women’s Center and the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility at the 400 Faunce Corner Road jail.

After confirming the fever, she put on a mask and left the facility. She has not gone back since, and according to the press release, will remain away “for the time being.”

The Sheriff’s Office stated in the release that on April 1, the nurse received a positive test for Covid-19. She has had no symptoms since leaving the facility.

"It's encouraging that she's had no symptoms for a week and is feeling well," stated Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson. "It's also encouraging that no other BCSO or CPS staff members, nor any inmates or detainees, have reported symptoms.”

"We wish her a safe, speedy recovery,” he added.

Medical professionals are meeting with detainees in the ICE facility and inmates in the Women's Center on April 2 to answer questions about the nurse's positive test.

The Bristol County House of Corrections ICE facility detainees are currently on strike due to fears they may be at risk of an outbreak, given crowded conditions at the facility.

A federal judge has requested ICE not to transport immigration detainees to the facility, pending the results of a lawsuit on the issue. A hearing is set to take place on Thursday afternoon.

The Sheriff's Office has instituted protocols to protect inmates, detainees and staff from the coronavirus outbreak over the past month, including cleaning and disinfecting the facility every shift, screening staff and new inmates upon arrival, and suspending the volunteer program as well as in-person visitation.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, there are currently no inmates, detainees or other staff members showing symptoms of coronavirus.