FRANKLIN — Leaders at the Johnson County Jail are outlining plans to better take on the fight against COVID-19 within the walls of the facility.
Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess said the facility will be installing hydroxyl generators in the jail. The machines are meant to help with air purification but don't necessarily prevent COVID-19.
The sheriff said 231 inmates have been tested for the coronavirus and 104 tested positive. The jail is reportedly operating under strict hygiene rules, including the wearing of masks and the monitoring of temperatures.
"It's a struggle right now. We're doing everything we can to keep people safe," Burgess said. "It's unfortunate, the White House has it. They can tell who comes into that building. It's very tough to limit the number of people coming into my facility that have been arrested."
The Indiana State Department of Health has also visited the jail and educated the inmates on precautions they need to take against the spread of the coronavirus. County judges have also been looped in on the situation to help with the inmate population.
