DETROIT (WWJ) - The Wayne County Sheriff's Department is feeling the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on its staff.
One deputy who works at the Wayne County Jail, off Clinton Street near St Antoine in downtown Detroit, has tested positive for COVID-19. A second deputy is awaiting test results to verify if he also has the virus.
"One did test positive but we do not have confirmed that the second is positive," department spokesperson Pageant Atterberry told WWJ's Vickie Thomas.
The infected employee is currently under self-quarantine but his current condition is unknown.
"He has been sent home. Initially he was told by his doctor to quarantine for 14 days but I guess the symptoms got worse and he went back to the hospital," Atterberry said. "We were told by his wife that he is positive for COVID-19."
The second deputy is still waiting for test results to confirm if he is in fact positive for coronavirus.
Atterberry said both deputies attended the same party over the weekend, though it's unclear if that is where they contracted the virus.
"When it comes to COVID-19, we try to find a common link, if these people have been in the same place, who have they been around, and it just so happened our two deputies were at the same party over the weekend," she said.
It's unclear if any inmates were exposed to the virus but at this time, Atterberry said no inmates are showing any symptoms of the virus.
"It is possible (inmates might have been infected) but as of now, all of our inmates are healthy," she said.