SAN ANTONIO – This article is no longer being updated. For the latest information about COVID-19 cases in the Bexar County Jail and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, click here.
Update: An inmate has tested negative for the novel coronavirus after coming into contact with a University Hospital physician who tested positive for the virus, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said Friday morning.
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Eleven deputies who guarded the inmate and later placed under self-quarantine will return to duty, BCSO said. They were originally placed on administrative leave Tuesday.
Neither the deputies or inmate had symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
No inmates at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center have the coronavirus, according to BCSO.
Original story: Eleven deputies are under self-quarantine after coming into contact with a University Hospital resident physician who tested positive for COVID-19, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said.
Officials said the deputies were guarding an inmate who was being seen by the doctor.
The doctor later tested positive for the virus.
University Hospital nurse, resident physician test positive for COVID-19, hospital says
BCSO said the inmate never made it to the jail. The agency said the deputies are at home monitoring themselves for symptoms.
BCSO sent KSAT the following statement:
"Although, each deputy that was assigned to guard the inmate did not come into contact with the physician, the deputies were placed on leave out of an abundance of caution as we await the COVID-19 test results for the inmate.
“Neither the deputies or the inmate have shown any flu-like symptoms.”
Test results determined another inmate who was showing symptoms of coronavirus tested negative for COVID-19, according to Bexar County officials.
University Health System said two resident physicians and a nurse have tested positive for COVID-19. They were all isolated at home, according to the hospital.
San Antonio doctor tests positive for COVID-19 after travel, quarantining at home
“When staff members test positive, it is our responsibility to trace contacts and reach out to those who were potentially exposed, so they can self-quarantine at home for 14 days. These tracers and calls are currently underway,” University Health System (UHS) said in the statement.
UHS said staff members coming back from vacation are required to self-report so the hospital can decide whether they need to self-quarantine or self-monitor when they return to work.
“Unfortunately, with this aggressive virus, it is impossible to completely reduce the risk of exposure,” UHS’ statement continued.
UHS said it is strengthening its screening checks for employees and limiting patient visitors.
COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, stands for coronavirus disease 2019. The disease first appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, but spread around the world in early 2020, causing the World Health Organization to declare a pandemic in March.
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