BARTON COUNTY —On Saturday, the Barton County Health Department notified the sheriff's department of a positive Covid19 case in the jail, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.
The test was conducted as part of routine screening before transporting a prisoner to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
The inmate had been in the detention center for several months. The inmate was asymptomatic at the time of testing. It is likely there are other inmates who will test positive. All inmates and detention staff are currently being tested by the Barton County Health Department. Isolation and quarantine measures are being instituted within the facility.
Due to the unknown source of the infection, the Sheriff’s Office will be discontinuing inmate visitation and VIN inspections until further notice. Furthermore, the administrative building will be closed to the general public.
Any business with the Sheriff’s office can be conducted in the lobby of the jail. We are taking these precautions for the safety of staff, inmates and the general public.
"I realize this will cause inconvenience for the public. In this instance I have decided to err on the side of caution and take these measures," said Bellendir.