Nearly 60 Inmates, Corrections Officers Test Positive For COVID-19 At McHenry County Jail

By Sam Borcia, the Lake & McHenry County Scanner:

The McHenry County Jail is on lockdown after nearly 60 inmates and corrections officers tested positive for COVID-19, the sheriff’s office said.

McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Byrnes said the McHenry County Jail in Woodstock has seen 42 inmates and 15 corrections officers test positive for COVID.

The jail began seeing cases on December 21 and the jail is following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, Byrnes said.

No one has been hospitalized as a result of the cases.

The facility is on lockdown “until further notice.”

Inmates are receiving isolated hour-outs to make phone calls, groom and exercise. No visitation is currently being allowed.

The jail has also increased COVID-19 testing of inmates and staff and continues to use personal protective equipment.

All programs remain canceled while the jail is on lockdown, Byrnes said.

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In-person court appearances have been moved to remote unless they are deemed necessary by the court.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.