San Juan Basin Public Health and La Plata County Sheriff’s Office implemented facility-wide COVID-19 testing of staff at the county jail. The initial round of testing took place Tuesday, with a second round occurring Thursday.

Testing La Plata County Sheriffs is part of SJBPH’s prioritized testing plan to get an understanding of risk in facilities and businesses with high-contact interactions. Early identification of staff with asymptomatic or presymptomatic infection reduces the risk of widespread transmission between staff members, the public and the jail population.

Testing La Plata County staff could reveal any asymptomatic cases and allow the facility to take appropriate precautions to reduce transmission of the virus based on the test results, optimize the use of appropriate PPE and accurately monitor any symptoms as they may develop.

Community-wide testing is a critical strategy to allow the community to reopen safely. Employers interested in participating in the SJBPH Worksite Monitoring Program should contact Tracie Holcomb at tholcomb@sjbpublichealth.org.

For the most up to date COVID-19 information, visit www.sjbpublichealth.org/coronavirus.