By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
A staff member at Canadian County’s juvenile facility has tested positive for COVID-19.
The new case surfaced late last week of a full-time detention employee at the Canadian County Children’s Justice Center, 7905 E Highway 66 in El Reno.
The individual was instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days and seek federal and state guidance on exposure to the virus, acting director Cedric Mills said Wednesday afternoon.
“We will re-evaluate based on the medical situation at that time,” Mills said.
Any other juvenile center staff member known to have been in contact with this infected employee has been notified and is under quarantine, he added.
“It’s ongoing,” Mills said. “As we find out more information, we’ll do more. That’s where we are at this moment.
“We’re trying to get through this (pandemic) just like any other service provider. We’re just trying to do the best we can.”
The infected detention center employee may have contracted the virus while working another job.
“The reason he tested is because he has a part-time job and one of his co-workers at that part-time job tested positive (for COVID-19),” Associate District Judge Bob Hughey said. “He was interviewed and identified anyone who works at the center that he had contact with so they could be quarantined as well.”
Judge Hughey, whose office is at the juvenile center, tested positive for COVID-19 on March 27 and remains at home after being quarantined. (See related story in upcoming edition of The Yukon Progress)
Oklahoma State Health Department records show there have been 82 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canadian County, including three deaths. Fifty-nine of the 82 positive patients have recovered.
Yukon has had 44 total cases with one death and 33 recoveries, according to the data.
