Six employees of the Durham County Sheriff’s Office have tested positive for COVID-19.

The office released a statement on Wednesday sharing the news, saying all six are practicing coronavirus recovery protocols. Sheriff Clarence F. Birkhead said there have been no reported cases among the inmate population, with all tests for inmates coming back negative for the virus.

In the release, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office said it will continue the safety protocols in place among its staff to protect their health and those of the inmate population in the detention center. Sheriff Birkhead implemented several changes of policy in March to prevent the spread of the virus, including suspending visitation and doing multiple health screenings of incoming arrestees. Incoming arrestees with no symptoms following an initial screening are held in a classification area of the county facility for 14 days before being screened again and assigned a pod.

The office also says masks have been made available and all interviews conducted by staff are completed outside the cell doors to maintain a barrier as part of the health protocols.

As of Wednesday, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services report 438 positive COVID-19 cases in Durham County, as well as six coronavirus-related deaths. The Durham County Sheriff’s Office did not disclose whether its six employees have been added to that total.

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