PITTSBURGH — The Allegheny County jail has returned to modified lockdown conditions following the recent rise in COVID-19 cases among those incarcerated at the facility.
“The jail had been on a good trajectory until recently with much of our operation restored to normal,” Warden Orlando Harper said. “But the recent increase in COVID infections resulted in our reaching out to our health partners to determine how best to limit the spread.”
Those health partners include medical professionals with the Allegheny Health Network, the jail’s medical services provider, and the Allegheny County Health Department.
As of Wednesday, May 18, there were 91 positive cases and at least 24 known exposures among the inmates. In addition, at least 29 staff members had either tested positive or are currently quarantined because of possible exposure. Out of the 28 housing pods being used at the facility, 12 are on isolation status.
Social visitation at this time will continue for fully vaccinated visitors and fully vaccinated inmates on pods that are not in isolation status. Those interested in visiting should call 412-350-2062 or 412-350-2063 to ensure the pod of the person they’re wishing to visit is not currently isolated. Masks are required for everyone inside the facility, including incarcerated persons and staff.
“We believe these mitigation efforts are necessary to maintain the health, safety, and security of our incarcerated population and our staff members,” Harper said. “Once the number of infections decrease, we can reevaluate and adjust our operations again accordingly.”
Officials said the general population housing units are allowed to have 15 inmates and two incarcerated workers out for recreation at a time. Physical distancing is also enforced, and wearing masks is mandatory.
The county jail also continues to test each person brought into the intake department with rapid antigen testing. If the person tests positive, the person is placed in isolation while the arraignment process is completed. If the person is committed to jail, they are then assigned a designated housing unit for a 10-day isolation period. That still allows them access to showers, the commissary, and tablets during the isolation period.
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