FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COVID Update:
Durham County Detention Center

 
Durham, NC (Wednesday, January 4, 2023) – Durham County Sheriff Clarence F. Birkhead reports the results of recent COVID testing of detainees and staff at the Durham County Detention Center. As of today (Wednesday, 1/4/2023), a total of 25 detainees are now being isolated. Another six staff members have also tested positive. As a direct result, all individuals who have tested positive are under quarantine medical isolation due to their positive COVID test results and will remain so until further testing is conducted. Congregate eating will be suspended for the time being as meals are being served in individual cells.

As of today, 371 men and women are detained at the Durham County Detention Center. Of that number, 311 await trial.
 
“As we start a New Year, we continue to be challenged by COVID; and I have informed the Board of County Commissioners and Durham County staff about this situation,”  Sheriff Birkhead said. “I take the safety and security of the people whose care and custody I am charged with very seriously. We have never stopped providing programs and services for individuals whom the court system has placed in the Durham County Detention Center; and this includes our efforts mitigating COVID."
 
Since the beginning of the COVID in 2020, Sheriff Birkhead has put in place multiple safety protocols to prevent the spread of the virus in the Durham County Detention Center to protect the health and well-being of residents and staff. These include but are not limited to additional regular sanitation of the building, random testing of detainees and staff, screening and testing detainees upon arrival, quarantine of detainees found to be positive or symptomatic, and the wearing of face coverings by all staff and residents. As a result of these actions, the number of illnesses among residents and staff have been kept to a manageable level.

During times of outbreak, increased measures like limiting time spent outside of individual cells, as well as limiting the number of people outside of cells at a given time has taken place. However, once the outbreak has passed those housed in the facility are able to resume regular activities without additional restriction.
 

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