The Greene County Sheriff’s Office is currently handling a COVID-19 outbreak.

Sheriff Jack Williams tells Raccoon Valley Radio there are seven employees that are out due to testing positive for the virus, including two deputies – one that test positive as of Tuesday- two jailers and three dispatchers. Even though it can be difficult to pinpoint where someone contracted the virus, Williams describes his suspicion of where the outbreak stemmed from.

“Our problem initially started with inmates in the jail. We believe we had one come in that had it, that didn’t show symptoms until after their initial quarantine was done entering the jail. And then after having to take that inmate to the hospital to be tested, that’s where I believe it got into the deputies. And then once it’s into the inner office it just kind of spread pretty rapidly.”

Williams notes when that inmate tested positive, all other inmates were on lockdown and not allowed to leave their cell except to shower. Jailers are now required to wear an N95 mask that medical personnel wear. He talks about having that many individuals not working has caused some extra strain on the other employees, including one specific situation involving an inmate.

“We have one inmate that’s in the hospital in Des Moines, so we have to have deputies with that person 24/7. So we’re always short two deputies every 24 hours. And now having another deputy test positive for the COVID it’s definitely putting a strain. But thankfully I’ve got a really good crew here and I know we’ll get through it.”           

Williams told the Greene County Board of Supervisors at their meeting on Monday to expect lots of overtime in the interim because the other employees are having to pick up extra shifts until everyone comes back healthy.