The Coconino County jail in northern Arizona is seeing a COVID-19 outbreak with at least 55 people currently testing positive for the virus.
Due to the current outbreak, the detention facility will not be accepting any inmates arrested for nonviolent misdemeanors.
Facility officials made the decision because they say they are unable to safely provide quarantine areas for those who have COVID-19. They also say they expect more cases to emerge after a mass testing drive.
Since March 2020, more than 300 inmates and more than 100 detention staff have tested positive for COVID-19. So far three inmates have been hospitalized.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s office says 80% of the facility’s population has been vaccinated against the virus.
