A new Santa Barbara County jail inmate has tested positive for coronavirus, but thanks to the jail's new screening protocols it was detected before the person ended up in the main jail population.
The 40 year old was arrested on burglary, stalking and drug charges by Santa Maria Police, and booked into the main jail April 1st. As part of the jail's new coronovirius response plan, the inmate was held in an isolated reception areas for two weeks.
On April 14th, the inmate went though a medical check in preparation for a move into the main jail population. The jail's medical staff discovered the inmate had a fever.
The inmate was immediately moved to a secure isolation area. The Sheriff's Office is now trying to determine who might have in contact with the inmate, and potentially exposed to the virus.
