Employee at Horry County’s J. Reuben Long Detention Center tests positive for coronavirus
An employee at J. Reuben Long Detention Center tested positive for coronavirus, according to the Horry County Sheriff’s Office.
The office announced Friday that the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control confirmed that a jail employee tested positive on Thursday.
Chief Deputy Tom Fox confirmed to The Sun News that inmates who had close contact with the employee have been quarantined. There was no further details shared about the employee.
The Sheriff’s Office stated it has followed South Carolina and federal health guidelines since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Horry County Sheriff Phillip Thompson said at a recent news briefing they added additional screening at the jail for employees, visitors and detainees.
“That’s for the safety of not only the inmates, but our staff and everyone that is working out there,” Thompson said.
Jail employees fill out a questionnaire and have their temperature taken before reporting for work, Thompson said.
The news comes days after Charleston County’s jail said several inmates in their facility have tested positive for coronavirus.
This story was originally published April 10, 2020 at 4:41 PM.
