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There is no coronavirus outbreak at the Washington County Detention Center despite a positive case of COVID-19 being reported in the jail on Wednesday.

According to Washington County Sheriff Scott Owen, a suspect was brought in by the Bartlesville Police Department on a domestic abuse charge. Sheriff Owen said they knew the inmate was positive with the virus before bringing him into the jail so they followed quarantine and protective equipment protocols closely.

Sheriff Owen said this is the only positive coronavirus case they've had on the inmate side since the pandemic began in March 2020. He said there are currently no positive COVID-19 cases in the jail.

Sheriff Owen said the suspect appeared before a Washington County District Judge via videoconference and had a $1,000 bond set for the domestic abuse charge. Owen said the inmate later posted bond and cleaning protocols were followed from there. He said his staff took rapid tests afterwards and they all came back negative.

Throughout the pandemic, Sheriff Owen said staff members at the WCSO that have determined that they were a close contact with someone with the virus would take time off to quarantine. Owen said staffers are put in isolation for two weeks if they are positive with the virus or determined to be a close contact. He said a negative test is needed to come back to work.

The health and safety of inmates and staffers at the WCSO is paramount to Sheriff Owen. In the jail, Sheriff Owen said two hour disinfectants and cleaning take place every shift. Owen said they have taken the extra step to install UV lighting in heat and air units throughout the jail that kill viruses such as COVID-19. He said high traffic touch areas are visited and cleaned often as well.

Sheriff Owen said he firmly believes that the Washington County Detention Center is one of the safest places to be in throughout all of Washington County. Owen said the nursing staff and medical staff are doing a fine job at the WCSO. He said they have no idea how long the pandemic will last but they are going to do everything in their power to keep the virus out of the jail.