In-House Visitation Stopped at County Jail Due to Positive COVID-19 Case

As of 2pm Wednesday, in-house visitation with inmates at Effingham County Jail has been halted.

The Effingham County Sheriff's Department has announced visitation has been halted because they have had a positive test of the COVID-19 virus in the jail. The positive case was discovered as a group of inmates were being screened for admittance to the Illinois Department of Corrections. The inmate did not have a fever and has mild symptoms that resemble a cold. All of the inmates in custody are being monitored and placed in permanent groups to avoid unnecessary contact. 

A sheriff's department release indicates the importance of visitation to the quality of life to those in custody, but that the first priority is the safety of the inmates and the jail staff. The jail has been COVID-free until now. The staff will now work to minimize the impact. The Effingham County Health Department was notified and are involved in mitigation procedures. The release indicates that no inmate is seriously ill and all inmates will be continuously monitored.

Inmates who have no means to contact their families, other than letters through the US Postal Service, will be granted a 15-minute call every week, regardless of their ability to pay for the call. All in-house jail programs that are conducted by outside volunteers have also been suspended.

The changes will be in place until further notice. Check the sheriff's office's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/EffinghamCountySO for updated information. Please do NOT call the jail for information.

The release indicates the hope that the situation is short-lived, and that families are encouraged to write more letters and send them through the mail. Regular services will be resumed as soon as possible.