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McHenry County Jail sees rise in COVID-19 cases, leading to lockdown

By Emily K. Coleman
The McHenry County Correctional Facility and the Michael J. Sullivan Judicial Center are seen on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Woodstock.

The McHenry County Correctional Facility and the Michael J. Sullivan Judicial Center are seen on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Woodstock. (Matthew Apgar/Matthew Apgar)

The McHenry County Jail has seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases among its detainees and officers, leading to a lockdown of the jail until further notice, a McHenry County Sheriff’s Office spokesman said.

As of Tuesday, 42 detainees and 15 corrections officers have tested positive, Deputy Kevin Byrnes said in an email. The number has been slowly increasing since Dec. 21.

No one has been hospitalized as a result of COVID-19, Byrnes said.

The cases led to the cancellation of in-person court appearances by those in jail unless the judge deems the defendant’s presence necessary, Byrnes said. Appearances can be made remotely instead.

The jail, which continues to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines, “is on lockdown until further notice,” Brynes said. That means visitors have been banned, programs remain cancelled, increased COVID-19 testing of inmates and staff, continued use of personal protective equipment, and detainees are restricted to one hour in the day room alone to make phone calls, groom or exercise.