Seven More Sheriff Employees Test Positive for COVID-19

Source: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office

Five Custody Deputies, a Sheriff’s Deputy, and a member of our professional staff have tested positive for COVID-19.

The first Custody Deputy was tested on December 8, 2020 as part of employee surveillance testing and was found to be COVID-19 positive on December 11, 2020. The Custody Deputy last worked on December 8, 2020 and did not begin experiencing symptoms until after work on that day. The second Custody Deputy last worked on December 8, 2020, became symptomatic on December 11, 2020 and was tested and found to be COVID-19 positive that same day. The third Custody Deputy tested on December 8, 2020 as part of employee surveillance testing and was notified while at work that the test was positive on December 12, 2020. The Custody Deputy was immediately sent home. The fourth Custody Deputy last worked on December 12, 2020, and was tested that day as part of employee surveillance testing. The Custody Deputy began experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms later that day and was found to be COVID-19 positive today. The fifth Custody Deputy last worked on December 8, 2020, began experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms on Saturday, December 12, 2020 and was rapid tested today and found to be positive. All five Custody Deputies consistently wore PPE while interacting with inmates.

The Sheriff’s Deputy last worked on December 7, 2020, began experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms on December 8, 2020 and was tested that day. The Deputy was found to be positive for COVID-19 on December 13, 2020. The deputy consistently wore a mask while at work.

The non-sworn member of our professional staff last worked on December 8, 2020 in a position that does not involve contact with the public nor inmates. The staff member began experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms after work on December 8, 2020 and was tested on December 9, 2020. The staff member was found to be positive for COVID-19 on December 12, 2020.

This brings the total number of Sheriff’s Office employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 to 57, with 48 having recovered and returned to work.