CLEVELAND, OH — Cases of COVID-19 inside the Cuyahoga County jail have more than tripled since the first six inmates were diagnosed with the virus less than two weeks ago, according new numbers released by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Statewide, ODRC said 27 inmates in city and county jails have tested positive for COVID-19 or have presumptive cases. Cuyahoga County accounted for 23 of those cases.
Cuyahoga County was the only jail in Northeast Ohio to report inmate infection to the state. Franklin County reported two cases and Butler County and Middletown city jail each had one case.
Lorain County, and Ottawa County each reported having one inmate in medical isolation. The state said that refers to an inmate confined because of a suspected case of COVID-19.
Cuyahoga County also reported 103 of the jail's 989 inmates are in quarantine after having "close contact with a COVID-19 case."
Summit County jail reported 95 quarantined inmates.
Lorain County (3 inmates), Richland County (2 inmates) and Geauga County (1 inmate) also have inmates quarantined according to ODRC.
The state said one Cuyahoga County inmate who tested positive was released from jail on April 10.
An attorney with Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, the union representing Cuyahoga County's corrections officers, said four county jailers have also tested positive for COVID-19.
The union also confirmed it has filed a grievance with the county over health and safety concerns inside the jail during the pandemic.