More than 20 inmates test positive for coronavirus at Milwaukee County House of Correction

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FRANKLIN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- More than 20 inmates at the Milwaukee County House of Correction have tested positive for the coronavirus and many more are showing symptoms, according to county officials.

According to House of Correction Superintendent Michael Hafemann, 27 inmates have tested positive, 26 are at the HOC, one is being supervised on electronic monitoring and at home. 

Hafemann says 17 more inmates are symptomatic. Of those, 15 are male and two are female. Six have been tested and are waiting on results. 

There are 23 correctional staff members who are self-quarantined at home, according to Hafemann. 

"It could be that they're symptomatic, it could be that they're positive or that they've returned from out of state travel," he said. 

He said they've had as many as four staff members who have been positive. Two of the four are no longer symptomatic and have been cleared by medical providers to return to work. Another nine are presumptive positive for the virus. 

Because of this, all inmates will be tested this weekend. Staff members will also be tested. 

"I think this is going to be one of the big first pushes of testing a large population of people who might not be symptomatic but it will give us a really great indication of the general public who may or may not be walking around asymptomatic that is also positive," said Courtney Day, Director of Health and Human Services in Franklin. 

Milwaukee County officials said Friday, so far there have been no confirmed cases at the Milwaukee County Jail. 

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