Allegheny County Jail returns to modified lockdown as covid cases rise

Rising covid-19 cases at Allegheny County Jail prompted officials to return to a modified lockdown Friday, with nearly half of the facility’s housing pods in isolation status.

There were 91 positive cases among incarcerated people as of Wednesday, officials said. Twelve of 28 housing pods are in isolation, and 29 employees have either tested positive or are in quarantine.

“The jail had been on a good trajectory until recently with much of our operation restored to normal, but the recent increase in covid infections resulted in our reaching out to our health partners to determine how best to limit the spread,” Warden Orlando Harper said in a statement.

Under modified lockdown, recreation time is limited to 15 incarcerated people and two incarcerated workers at a time. Physical distancing is enforced and masking is mandatory.

Incarcerated people who are fully vaccinated can continue to receive social visits from fully vaccinated visitors as long as their pod is not in isolation, officials said. Masks are required for staff, visitors and those who are incarcerated.

Visitors can call 412-350-2062 or 412-350-2063 to check the status of pods.

Officials said that people admitted to the jail are given a rapid test upon arrival. If they are positive, they are placed in isolation while the arraignment process plays out. If they remain in jail, they are assigned to a designated housing unit for 10 days of isolation. Once they test negative, they are reassigned to a housing unit.

If someone on a pod tests positive, the entire pod is placed in isolation for 10 days. Those who test positive are removed from the housing unit and placed in isolation.