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Second COVID-19 case in Uvalde is jail officer


Uvalde city and county officials held an 11:30 p.m. press conference Saturday to announce a second confirmed cased of COVID-19.

The affected person is a correctional officer employed with the Uvalde County Jail, says Sheriff Charles Mendeke. Mendeke went on to confirm his employee contracted the virus via community spread and not by traveling.

“This could get anyone,” Mendeke said. “I cannot stress enough the importance of social distancing.”

The sheriff said his office is continuing to monitor all employees and arrested persons. After closing the jail to visitors on March 13, Mendeke began requiring anyone seeking admittance to the jail to have their temperature taken.

He says this affected person called in on a day he was scheduled to work to say he was not feeling well and was consequently told to stay home.

“I don’t care if it’s a sinus infection, they’re not coming to work,” Mendeke said of his current stance on employees being ill. “I have 72 employees, and I’m not taking any chances.”

During the press conference, newly-appointed local health authority Dr. Jared Reading said the patient is doing well and has followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. He said the patient and his close associates are all in quarantined and will remain so until it is safe.

Reading also spoke on the importance of social distance and maintaining proper hygiene.

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Dr. Jared Reading, public health official for the city and county of Uvalde, speaks Saturday morning during a press conference announcing a second confirmed case of COVID-19 in Uvalde. (Uvalde Leader-News photo by Pete Luna)

Dr. Jared Reading, public health official for the city and county of Uvalde, speaks Saturday morning during a press conference announcing a second confirmed case of COVID-19 in Uvalde. (Uvalde Leader-News photo by Pete Luna)

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