Passaic County Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik reported on Friday that an inmate at the Passaic County Jail has tested positive for COVID-19.

The inmate, whose name was withheld, is believed to be the first prisoner at the jail to test positive. The inmate has been placed in quarantine.

Berdnik also reported that a patrol officer tested positive on Friday, making it the seventh member of the department to be a confirmed COVID-19 case.

"While I understand this is upsetting news," the sheriff advised members to follow the Center for Disease Control guidelines and report any contact with coronavirus-positive individuals to the Passaic County Department of Health.

Preakness Healthcare Center, the county nursing home, reported one coronavirus case on March 28.

New Jersey reported 4,372 new cases of the coronvirus on Friday, bringing the total to 29,895. There have been 646 deaths in New Jersey thus far attributed to the coronoavirus.

New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichelli said Friday that outbreaks of the virus in county jails are a serious concern. New Jersey has already thinned out the population in the county jails by releasing inmates who were serving sentences for non-violent offenses.

Passaic County began testing its residents at William Paterson University on March 25. Since then, more than 2,300 residents have been tested for the coronavirus. Volunteers tested 396 people on Friday.

The William Paterson test station is open Saturday but closed on Sunday. The testing is for Passaic County residents only who are showing symptoms of the coronavirus and have a doctor's referral.

Passaic County plans to keep the William Paterson test station open Monday through Thursday of next week, as long as there is a supply of test kits.

Richard Cowen covers Superior Court in Passaic County for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from criminal trials to local lawsuits and insightful analysis, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: cowenr@northjersey.com Twitter: @richardcowen123