This means that the recovered detainees have gone 21 days since a positive result was returned and are showing no symptoms. The NMDOH and CDC consider cases recovered after 14 days when no symptoms have been present. Out of an abundance of caution, the SJCADC has continued to monitor positive cases 21 days. Due to the fluid nature of the detention population, not all 144 remain in custody.
From San Juan County
July 24, 2020
After an outbreak of coronavirus in the San Juan County Adult Detention Center yielded more than 100 positive cases among detainees, detention center medical staff, using New Mexico Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control guidance, have deemed that most of those cases are recovered. Of the 144 positive cases reported in the SJCADC, 111 meet the criteria to be classified as recovered. This means that the recovered detainees have gone 21 days since a positive result was returned and are showing no symptoms. The NMDOH and CDC consider cases recovered after 14 days when no symptoms have been present. Out of an abundance of caution, the SJCADC has continued to monitor positive cases 21 days. Due to the fluid nature of the detention population, not all 144 remain in custody.
There are 30 remaining cases which are detained and considered active as of July 24. Of the 30 detainees remaining active, 12 detainees are being monitored closely because they are reporting symptoms, however, monitoring shows them to be stable, asymptomatic, and meet recovery criteria.
All other active cases remain asymptomatic.
An additional 14 cases meet NMDOH criteria for recovery today but will be considered recovered by the more stringent criteria followed by the SJCADC on July 31st.
With no changes in the population at the SJCADC, there will only be four active cases in custody on August 1.
Since March, the San Juan County Adult Detention Center has been observing strict practices to protect detainees and staff. Each detainee is tested for coronavirus upon arrival at the detention center and again after seven days. Based on the detainee’s classification and test result, they are placed in appropriate housing. Detainees are only housed with others who have tested the same.
Every detainee receives adequate medical attention from the SJCADC contracted medical provider, and the detainees have access to onsite medical care 24 hours a day. Detainees are provided care as needed and those with symptoms requiring more acute care are transferred to the hospital.
Detainees are provided with education, masks to wear, and are encouraged to observe social distancing to the extent possible. Additionally, staff sanitizes detainee housing areas at least three times daily, as well as provides cleaning and sanitizing supplies to detainees. Staff are all required, at all times, to wear proper personal protective equipment in the facility.
Additional testing of detainees and staff will continue, following NMDOH recommendations.
July 1, 2020
Following recently reported cases of coronavirus positive detainees at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center, testing of all negative cases was completed on Monday, June 29. Testing has confirmed an additional 21 coronavirus positive detainees and two additional coronavirus positive detention staff. There are 4 outstanding tests.
Currently, there are 118 positive detainees at the SJCADC. Among positive cases, 117 are asymptomatic. Only one shows any symptoms.
There are 314 detainees currently at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center.
Detention Center Staff have been in close collaboration with the New Mexico Department of Health and San Juan County Office of Emergency Management to address the situation. Going forward, detainees and staff who have tested negative will be retested twice a week. According to the NMDOH, positive results will be included in daily county counts, on the same day they are released.
All detainees who tested positive are quarantined, receiving medical care as needed, and closely monitored by medical staff. Quarantined detainees will be tested weekly until they test negative. Any positive detention staff are put on leave until they meet Centers for Disease Control guidelines to return to work.
Additionally, medical and detention staff are provided personal protective equipment and it is required to be worn by staff throughout the facility.
Educational materials and face coverings are provided to detainees, and social distancing is enforced among detainees, as much as possible. Detainee areas are cleaned daily and provided with additional cleaning supplies.
We understand that families may have concerns about their loved ones in the San Juan County Adult Detention Center. Medical and detention staff are bound by federal law to maintain patient privacy. HIPAA laws ensure that medical information is protected. Staff is prohibited from disclosing medical information, except under very specific instances. Please, do not call the facilities to inquire about the health of a loved one. Staff will not disclose that information over the phone.
June 27, 2020
As a result of positive tests last week, testing of all detainees and staff was completed on Thursday.
Results of that round of testing came back today and we can report additional positive cases at the SJCADC.
There are now 66 additional positive cases among detainees for a total of 98 positive cases. Of the 98 detainees who are positive, 97 are asymptomatic.
There is one staff member who has tested positive.
The 66 additional cases are included in daily numbers reported by New Mexico Department of Health on Saturday.
There will be another complete testing of staff and detainees on Monday. We will report any results when they are received.
As the last time, positive detainees are being quarantined and closely monitored for additional signs and symptoms. The total population at the Adult Detention Center as of today is 319.
San Juan County Adult Detention Center Staff have been in close and constant contact with the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management and New Mexico Department of Health to coordinate resources and maintain situational awareness and best practices.
We understand that families may have concerns about their loved ones in any of the facilities. Medical and detention staff are bound by federal law to maintain patient privacy. HIPAA laws ensure that medical information is protected. Staff is prohibited from disclosing medical information, except under very specific instances. Please, do not call the facilities to inquire about the health of a loved one. Staff will not disclose that information over the phone.
June 23, 2020
Continued testing for coronavirus at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center has indicated that 32 detainees now test positive.
The San Juan County Adult Detention Center has employed stringent practices to screen and test detainees upon entry to the facility. These practices have been in place since March when the COVID-19 pandemic impacted New Mexico and include screening staff and contractors before their shift starts. New arrivals are isolated until tests for coronavirus come back negative before joining the general population.
After two detainees were transferred to another facility out of San Juan County, they tested positive for coronavirus. As a result, 56 detainees, in two pods, may have been exposed and were tested. As of Tuesday afternoon, 29 detainees have tested positive for coronavirus after exposure. There are 27 outstanding tests.
There are a total of 32 detainees currently housed who have tested positive for coronavirus. Only one detainee who tested positive is symptomatic. There is one additional symptomatic detainee who has been tested and results are pending.
Additionally, San Juan County Adult Detention has implemented weekly testing of 5% of the detention center’s population. Weekly testing of 5% of the population will continue.
The positive detainees have been isolated from the rest of the population and will be receiving medical attention as needed.
There is no information about when these numbers will be reflected in test results reported by the state.
San Juan County contracts with Wellpath for detainee medical services. Healthcare staff works closely with detention staff to maintain best practices to keep the populations healthy.
Across all three San Juan County detention facilities, detainees, staff, contractors, and any other entrants are being constantly monitored for fever. Staff is screened before a shift, and at the Adult Detention Center and Juvenile Detention Center, new arrivals, and returning detainees are monitored for 14 days. Once a detainee is placed, each facility works to minimize the movement of detainees between areas.
Additionally, medical and detention staff are provided personal protective equipment and it is required to be worn by staff throughout the facilities.
Educational materials are provided to detainees and social distancing is enforced among detainees, as much as possible. Detainee areas provided with cleaning supplies daily.
San Juan County detention facilities have been in close and constant contact with the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management and New Mexico Department of Health to coordinate resources and maintain situational awareness and best practices.
We understand that families may have concerns about their loved ones in any of the facilities. Medical and detention staff are bound by federal law to maintain patient privacy. HIPAA laws ensure that medical information is protected. Staff is prohibited from disclosing medical information, except under very specific instances. Please, do not call the facilities to inquire about the health of a loved one. Staff will not disclose that
information over the phone.
All detainees at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center and staff will be tested for coronavirus again on
Thursday.
