Taylor County Jail Confirms Massive COVID-19 Spike in Inmates

ABILENE, TX — Taylor County Jail is now ranked as the third-highest jail in the state of Texas in relation to the number of inmates testing positive for coronavirus.

According to KTXS, as of Monday 172 inmates and 30 jailers have tested positive for COVID-19. According to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, the number of positive cases increased by 168 inmates from July 8-13.

The first cases of coronavirus at the jail were reported on July 1st, at that time seven correctional officers and two inmates had tested positive.

At the time Sheriff Ricky Bishop stated the department would be requesting a jail response team from the Texas Department of Emergency Management to test all the remaining 765 inmates and 150 employees.

"Unfortunately, we have it in there, COVID," said Sheriff Ricky Bishop. “There is no reason to panic over this. We are taking necessary precautions."

Bishop did not respond to comment requests from local media regarding the huge spike.

Harris County had 318 inmates and 118 jailers test positive, while El Paso County has 230 inmates and 48 jailers with positive results.

Tom Green County has also confirmed 4 cases of coronavirus: 1 inmate and 3 jailers. Haskell County has confirmed 10 cases, 7 inmates, and 3 jailers.

Currently, 1,471 inmates and 516 jailers have tested positive across 39 Texas jails.