PORTALES, NM – The Roosevelt County Detention Center announces one additional officer has tested positive for COVID-19. The officer was tested on July 16, 2020 and is quarantined at home. The testing results were provided to the Detention Center on July 28, 2020, twelve days after the sample was collected and submitted to DOH. The employee was notified by the facility on July 28, 2020 and notified by the Department of Health (DOH) the following day on July 29. This employee had tested negative on five prior tests and was asymptomatic at the time of testing positive. No additional positive tests have been confirmed by DOH at the facility.
Comprehensive testing of detainees and staff had been implemented prior to this incident as 100 percent of RCDC staff and approximately 75 percent of detainees voluntarily tested on May 19 and 20, and all test results were negative. RCDC in partnership with onsite medical provider Wellpath and DOH had completed testing of all detainees and staff on three separate occasions to follow DOH protocol regarding the initial positive test within the facility last month. There are currently 57 detainees at the facility, 29 security staff, as well as 11 additional support staff and contractors.
The facility has been testing at least 15 percent of the detainee population as well as staff since June, which exceeds the DOH recommendations of 5 percent. DOH has advised the facility to complete a new round of test for detainees and staff that could have been exposed on Monday, Aug. 3. The facility implemented rigorous procedures and protocols early on in response to COVID-19 and continues to maintain these standards. All staff and detainees are being monitored closely for any signs or symptoms and temperatures are taken twice daily. The officer whom tested positive in June has fully recovered and returned to work.
The County will provide additional details if/when they become available.
