York County officials announced Thursday that they are launching a “comprehensive” inquiry into the large COVID-19 outbreak at the jail.County Manager Gregory Zinser announced the independent inquiry during a news conference Thursday morning.”We don’t entirely know what led to the current situation, so we owe it to everyone involved to really understand the facts and the situation that may have led to a decision one way or another. That is the million dollar question, we know it is. We intend to get to the bottom of that,” Zinser said.Zinser said as of Thursday morning there were 82 cases of the virus involving the jail. Of the 82 cases, 46 involve inmates, 18 involve people who work at the jail and 17 involve close contacts of the affected jail workers. There is also one case involving a vendor at the jail.Zinser said he believed there were roughly 106 inmates at the jail as of Thursday. The infected inmates are being quarantined in a separate unit at the facility in separate cells.The outbreak is linked to an outbreak associated with a wedding in the Millinocket area on Aug. 7. A staff member at the jail attended the wedding, officials said.Zinser officials became aware of the spread of the virus at the jail on Aug. 19. Zinser said since that date the jail has been following all Maine CDC and Maine Department of Corrections guidelines, including the wearing of face coverings.Zinser said the inquiry will look into how the virus spread and whether any safety protocols set by the county were not followed.Zinser said the county’s protocols called for face coverings to worn at the jail.He said appropriate action will be taken to resolve any issues that led to any deviation from the protocols.Zinser said a third round of testing at the jail is underway. Testing on inmates was conducted on Tuesday and testing of employees will finish on Thursday.
ALFRED, Maine —
York County officials announced Thursday that they are launching a “comprehensive” inquiry into the large COVID-19 outbreak at the jail.
County Manager Gregory Zinser announced the independent inquiry during a news conference Thursday morning.
“We don’t entirely know what led to the current situation, so we owe it to everyone involved to really understand the facts and the situation that may have led to a decision one way or another. That is the million dollar question, we know it is. We intend to get to the bottom of that,” Zinser said.
Zinser said as of Thursday morning there were 82 cases of the virus involving the jail.
Of the 82 cases, 46 involve inmates, 18 involve people who work at the jail and 17 involve close contacts of the affected jail workers. There is also one case involving a vendor at the jail.
Zinser said he believed there were roughly 106 inmates at the jail as of Thursday. The infected inmates are being quarantined in a separate unit at the facility in separate cells.
The outbreak is linked to an outbreak associated with a wedding in the Millinocket area on Aug. 7. A staff member at the jail attended the wedding, officials said.
Zinser officials became aware of the spread of the virus at the jail on Aug. 19. Zinser said since that date the jail has been following all Maine CDC and Maine Department of Corrections guidelines, including the wearing of face coverings.
Zinser said the inquiry will look into how the virus spread and whether any safety protocols set by the county were not followed.
Zinser said the county’s protocols called for face coverings to worn at the jail.
He said appropriate action will be taken to resolve any issues that led to any deviation from the protocols.
Zinser said a third round of testing at the jail is underway. Testing on inmates was conducted on Tuesday and testing of employees will finish on Thursday.