Jail staff, inmates test negative for COVID-19
No new coronavirus cases were detected during testing of all inmates and staff at the San Miguel County Detention Center, according to Warden Matt Elwell.
The testing was prompted after one inmate tested positive May 5 during routine testing. New Mexico Department of Health officials tested staff and other inmates May 6, and by Sunday afternoon, all test results had returned with no sign of further infection.
“We put every precaution we thought of in place, and we still had a positive test,” Elwell said. “But it didn’t spread, so that’s the good thing.”
Following the positive test, the jail instituted a partial lockdown. Twenty-two staff members — including Elwell — volunteered to live at the jail, and staff members worked 12-hour shifts to keep the facility operating. The jail returned to regular staffing shifts at 6 a.m. Monday.
