Half Of Muskogee County Inmates Test Positive For COVID-19

The Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office says half of all inmates in the jail right now have tested positive for COVID-19. They said right now the jail is in critical mode. 

The Sheriff’s Office said on top of the 135 inmates who have tested positive they have eight jail employees who have also tested positive and are off work. They are dealing with limited resources and limited space. 

Muskogee County Sheriff Andy Simmons said having half the jail with COVID-19 makes it extra tough to quarantine. He said on top of the 135 inmates who have COVID, they also have fifteen others whose test results are pending. 

Simmons said they are disinfecting and sanitizing the facility multiple times a day.

They said all inmates are being given medical care, but they said so far none of the inmates have needed to go to the hospital. 

“The maximum capacity at the jail is 284 and with that number of positive cases it’s almost 50 percent. We are on felony status. We are trying not to take failure to pays, we are just trying to take the violent people, the mean people, domestic abuse, anything alcohol related that may cause a bigger problem. We are just trying to do the best we can,” said Simmons. 

The Sheriff’s office said these are trying times, but even so, their main focus is to continue to keep the people of Muskogee County safe.