COVID Update
While all staff members have contributed in their areas to aid one another and our community, a nurse from NaphCare put herself at risk early on by volunteering to work with the COVID-19 patients providing them with excellent care and continuity during a time of isolation and fear. That is just one example of sacrifices being made by members of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. Other staff members have taken precautions to work with patients and maintain the cleanliness of the jails.
Partnerships are key. The Georgia National Guard administered coronavirus tests to employees. Staff members volunteered to be tested which helped to assess risk and basic contact tracing to avoid exposing others to the virus.
Masks, Mitigation, and Managing
Mitigation measures include making masks available to staff and jail inmates. Face shields are available for staff which provide greater protection when necessary so they can be safe and concentrate on their work of serving the public.
Every detainee and police officer delivering detainees are screened before entering the facility. Every person who enters the building for work or business is also screened. The procedure is to take the temperature of individuals using thermal imaging cameras and touch free thermometers. Staff question everyone about exposure, symptoms, and travel as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
All new inmates are quarantined 14 days as a precaution before placement in general population.
Professional cleaning of the main jail on Rice Street and the Atlanta City Detention Center served to thoroughly disinfect surfaces.
Limiting Gatherings
All inmate visitation is conducted online with the exception of meetings with attorneys, judges, and clergy. First appearance hearings are held virtually. No spectators are allowed in jail courtrooms.Roll Calls conducted outside or staff report directly to work site and receive briefings on the floors.
To better manage resources, the Alpharetta Jail Annex was closed until further notice on April 5, 2020. The Marietta Jail Annex was also shut down and the inmates in that facility were moved to the main jail temporarily.
Community Support
The outpouring of support from former graduates of our Citizens’ Academy, business owners, chaplains, and other residents has been remarkable. Masks, meals, and volunteer hours have been donated to bolster staff. We have been very fortunate and are very grateful.