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Number of inmates infected with COVID-19 at Meck County Jail decreases

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — The number of inmates infected with COVID-19 at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center has decreased, officials said.

As of Friday, there are 29 active cases, with one person being hospitalized. There are also a total of 293 residents in Respiratory Isolation due to the possibility of exposure by those who tested positive.

No one has died due to the virus at the facility, officials said.

The drop in positive cases comes after the Mecklenburg County Jail went into a lockdown earlier in December after a spike in COVID-19 cases.

It went into lockdown to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the facility after more than 150 inmates were infected with the virus.

The Mecklenburg County Detention Center said it continues testing, and has increased sanitization efforts.

Officials said they are working with the local health department to coordinate the first inmate to get the COVID-19 vaccine at the jail.