Heart of America Correctional and Treatment Center has been placed under lockdown due to a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases among inmates and staff, the facility announced Jan. 7.

According to a statement issued by Jail Administrator Mike Graner, the facility began “large scale testing efforts” on Jan. 4 “when offenders indicated feeling sick.”

Graner said jail medical staff administered more than 80 tests for COVID-19 on offenders and staff over the next three days. Of those tests, 42 came back with positive results.

Graner said 38 of the 42 positive cases “are in the offender population. We have 75 offenders in-custody,” Graner added, noting 50.6% of inmates had tested positive.

“Adequate staffing levels have been maintained but we are concerned that this could worsen based on the level of transmission we are seeing,” Graner said.

Those concerns led to a decision to place the facility on full lockdown as of Jan. 7.

“All key stakeholders have been notified,” Graner said of agencies and individuals connected with jail operations. “We hope agencies that board (offenders) primarily with us will be able to route any new arrests to other facilities in the region.”

“The lockdown will remain in effect for a period of at least 10 days,” Graner added. “We feel this timeframe will be adequate for the initial surge to clear. We fully expect new positives over the next couple of days.”

Graner said, “So far most offenders are reporting no symptoms. We have a couple of offenders that have mild to moderate symptoms. We do not currently have any offenders with serious symptoms that would require outside medical care. We are treating any symptoms on-site with (over-the-counter) medication.”

“Visitation, volunteer services (and) fingerprinting serves are all suspended,” Graner added.

“This is a challenging situation because daily routines and schedules have all been impacted,” Graner said. “Staff are doing a terrific job in response to this outbreak and I am grateful for the wonderful group we have working here.”