FLINT, MI – Two Genesee County jail deputies are self-quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announced the positive tests at a Wednesday, April 15 press conference in Flint.

The sheriff’s office was made aware on April 13 of the first deputy testing positive, with the second positive coming the following day.

Those positives come days after an Aramark food vendor employee servicing the sheriff’s office tested positive.

Food vendor employee in Genesee County Jail tests positive for coronavirus

Swanson pointed out additional deputies -- less than four – are also out “because they are symptomatic, but they don’t reach the criteria of being tested.”

In working with the Genesee County Health Department and local hospitals, Swanson said beginning Wednesday that any sheriff’s office employee showing any symptoms will be able to get tested before they return to the jail.

“We have a population unlike any other population in the county,” he said. “We want to protect the inmates, protect the staff.”

In-person visits are currently prohibited for inmates, but online visits for family members are being provided. Inmates also have been given masks to wear when they are outside of their cells.

New inmates coming into the jail are under what Swanson labeled a “quarantine protocol,” meaning they are held on a lower floor for 14 days.

If they do not show any symptoms, they are then moved up to the upper floors.

Cleaning is taking place twice a day, Swanson said.

He encouraged the general public to wear a mask, no matter the material.

“Whether it’s a surgical mask, an N95, a scarf, take your own precautions,” said Swanson, wearing a homemade mask provided to him by a community member. “We’re all in this together.”