Lake County Sheriff Sues Health Dept. For Coronavirus Case Info.

LAKE COUNTY, IL — As new cases of the coronavirus are confirmed across Lake County, including three inmates this week at the Lake County jail, Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg asked the Lake County Health Department on April 23 to (confidentially) inform them of the names and addresses of residents who've tested positive for the coronavirus, in an effort to keep the community safe and informed. However, the health department has not agreed to do so, according to the sheriff's office.

"As the Health Department and Sheriff’s Office are unable to come to an agreement, we believed it is necessary to elevate this to the Circuit Court," sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Christopher Covelli confirmed to Patch. "We know the Lake County Health Department has been diligently working around the clock to keep the community healthy and informed. That said, Sheriff Idleburg wants to do everything in his power to keep his employees, their families, and the community safe during these times. Additionally, the Sheriff wants to ensure our inmate population stays healthy."

This information is especially important for new inmates being admitted to the jail, Covelli told Patch, adding that it will help deputies who respond to calls, and will help them place confirmed positive cases immediately in medical isolation cells at the jail. The sheriff's office announced Thursday that nine inmates at the Lake County jail were tested by the jail's medical provider Saturday for the coronavirus due to being housed with a since-released inmate who tested positive. The results came back Wednesday for eight of the inmates; five tested negative, three tested positive and one is pending, according to the sheriff's office. These inmates we all house in 6T, the sheriff's office added.

According to a news release from the sheriff's office, there were originally 10 inmates housed in 6T with the previously released inmate who tested positive. On April 17, one of the inmates was released on bail, and wasn't showing symptoms of the coronavirus when they were released, the news release said.

The sheriff's office reports that no inmates have been moved into 6T or from 6T to other housing units in the jail, as the five of the nine remaining inmates who tested negative for the coronavirus have been moved out of the unit to the new 14-day inmate quarantine area. The three who tested positive will remain housed in 6T, along with the inmate whose test results have not returned, the sheriff's office said.

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In addition, the four inmates in 6T are in "good overall conditions and are not displaying symptoms of illness," the sheriff's office said, adding that these four inmates will continue to be closely monitored by medical staff.

"Jails are congregate facilities and separation of inmates is not a simple task in a confined space," Covelli said. "Thus, knowing an inmate is COVID-19 positive upon their entry would allow us to place them immediately into an isolation cell with reverse airflow capability, versus in the pod being used for the 14-day quarantine period, with other inmates."

According to the news release, all of the jail’s inmates receive medical care and are routinely evaluated by medical staff while in custody.

As far as the lawsuit goes, Covelli said a judge will hear both sides and make a determination.

"We look forward to the decision of the Court and will certainly respect the outcome," Covelli said.

RELATED:

• Released Lake County Jail Detainee Tests Positive For Coronavirus
• Coronavirus: McHenry County Sheriff Wins In Health Dept. Lawsuit
• Convicted Murderers Among 4,000 Released Inmates In IL

A similar situation recently took place in McHenry County, where the health department didn't release names and addresses of patients who tested positive for the coronavirus as requested by police. The McHenry County State's Attorney's office filed a lawsuit for the sheriff's office, and after filing, Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, McHenry and Woodstock police departments joined. A judge soon entered a temporary restraining order mandating the McHenry County Health Department to disclose the names of those currently infected with the coronavirus to law enforcement, according to a news release from the state's attorney's office.

Patch will continue updating this story as more information becomes available.