In the past 24 hours, 14 deputies have lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19. This brings the current total of infected employees to 16 this week. All employees and inmates who have had direct or indirect contact, or other work-related contact have been notified. Approximately 412 employees and 300 inmates have been tested this week.

This current COVID situation remains the top priority of Sheriff Elder and the Staff at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. In March, we put in place emergency operating plans for just this circumstance. We have made significant adjustments to how we normally operate the facility to combat this outbreak. We will test and care for every employee and inmate, and provide the safest facility possible under these rapidly evolving conditions.

The threat of further infection will continue to increase over the next several weeks. Within the next week we will be testing all employees assigned to work in the jail and inmates. In addition to testing, we are in the process of providing additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to inmates. At this point in time, there have been no inmates who have had to be hospitalized. They are all being treated in the facility by our medical provider, WellPath.

As the global COVID-19 information continues to develop, the Sheriff is working diligently in collaboration with Public Health, other County leadership, the Colorado Department of Public Health Environment along with members of the National Guard Medical Team who will be assisting with the testing of the remaining inmates.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to UCHealth in assisting us with the processing of the test results. 

Additional or updated information will be released as it becomes available.