Durham Sheriff: Records Division Closed After Positive COVID-19 Tests

After experiencing an outbreak among its inmate population months ago, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office is now experiencing new COVID-19 cases among its staff.

An alert from the sheriff’s office on Tuesday morning announced members of the office’s records division have tested positive for the coronavirus.

“In the interest of public safety, the records office is closed until further notice as we await the results of staff testing and conduct a deep cleaning of that office,” said the release.

The Durham County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating its response with Durham County Public Health, but the release indicates members of the public could have been exposed to those with the virus. Anyone who was in the Records Department of the Sheriff’s Office from November 2 through today, November 10, may have been at risk and should be tested. The county health department is beginning to conduct contact tracing and will notify those who might have been directly exposed to the coronavirus.

“Sheriff’s Office employees have taken every possible precaution in protecting the public and themselves since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sheriff Clarence Birkhead in his office’s release. “This virus has impacted our agency, however, we have a responsibility to carry out our duties to the residents of Durham County. We will continue to follow all local, state, and federal guidelines in doing so.”

The office has experienced at least up to eight employees already catch COVID-19, with six employees testing positive in April and two more in July. In August, the Durham County Detention Center experienced an outbreak of the coronavirus among inmates. Up to 20 inmates ultimately tested positive after an initial cluster of eight were confirmed to have caught COVID-19.

Photo via the Durham County Sheriff’s Office. 

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

‹

Durham Sheriff's Office Identifies Hillsborough Man in Weekend Shooting

A Hillsborough man is dead after a shooting at a weekend family gathering in Durham County, according to the sheriff’s office. A release from investigators on Monday identified 59-year-old Alton Antonio Wall of Hillsborough as one of two people who died. According to the sheriff’s office, who gathered independent witnesses’ stories on Friday and Saturday, […]

Sheriff: Durham Man Arrested in Chapel Hill After Cutting Victim 'Multiple Times' in Fight

An alert from the Durham County Sheriff's Office said deputies were called to the 5100 block of Barbee Chapel Road at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

Chapel Hill Police Identify, Charge Third in High-Speed Chase and Shooting From January

Chapel Hill Police delivered 17 charges stemming from the Jan. 25 shooting to 19-year-old Maurice Keys as he was held in Durham County.

Trio of Men Arrested and Charged in Connection to Orange County Murder

The Orange County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday it arrested a trio of men in recent weeks related to a home invasion murder in March.

Durham Man Found Guilty in 2023 UNC Shooting, Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison

Ronell Canion was found guilty on all counts of assault with a deadly weapon following a trial over the April 2023 shooting that injured one.

Police: Man Shot at NC Mall Remains in Critical Condition

Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Police in North Carolina say that a man remains in critical condition following Friday’s shooting at a shopping mall that was packed with shoppers on the day after Thanksgiving. Durham police said Saturday that investigators continue to investigate the incident at The Streets at Southpoint. The shooting also wounded a […]

Police Chief: 3 Shot in Fight at North Carolina Mall

Written by TOM FOREMAN Jr. and JONATHAN DREW Three people were shot and wounded Friday during an apparent fight between two groups at a North Carolina mall crowded with shoppers on the day after Thanksgiving, the police chief said. Authorities said in the late afternoon that one person was detained and there was no further […]

Ex-Deputy Sues North Carolina Sheriff Over Vaccine Mandate

A former North Carolina deputy is suing a sheriff over his requirement for employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Christopher Neve, the former Durham County deputy, is asking a court to force Sheriff Clarence Birkhead to reinstate him with back pay and to rule that vaccine mandates are unconstitutional, The Herald-Sun of Durham reported Friday. […]

Police Investigating Fatal Shooting at Leigh Farm Road Near Chapel Hill

The recent discovery of a body off Leigh Farm Road has police searching for more information. The Durham Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting reported Wednesday morning in the 300 block of Leigh Farm Road, which is just past the Orange County line off North Carolina Highway 54. Police found the victim, identified as […]

Durham Sheriff: Records Division Closed After Positive COVID-19 Tests

After experiencing an outbreak among its inmate population months ago, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office is now experiencing new COVID-19 cases among its staff. An alert from the sheriff’s office on Tuesday morning announced members of the office’s records division have tested positive for the coronavirus. “In the interest of public safety, the records office […]

›