The Dane County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release late Tuesday that 49 jail residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Those who have tested positive are currently isolated in four City-County Building cellblocks and two Public Safety Building housing units. Due to the current population – 819 – the jail has limited space for isolating residents, the release said.
In response, jail administrators are temporarily suspending in-person visitation and programming.
The release said the Dane County Jail has medical staff in the building at all hours to treat anyone symptomatic. If a resident’s symptoms become too severe to be treated by jail
nursing staff, they will be transported to a local hospital.
Other safety precautions include the availability of face masks for all staff and
residents, rapid testing, vaccinations, and increased cleaning protocols.
Attorney visits will be permitted with mandatory face coverings.
In 2020, the Sheriff’s Office was able to significantly reduce the jail population from over 700 to under 570 in response to the pandemic.
