A coronavirus outbreak in a jail could be devastating.
Marshall County Sheriff Phil Sims says they are taking precautions to make sure that doesn't happen.
"We're cleaning. Employees are washing their hands. They all have the PPE materials, masks and gloves," said Sims. "We have a crew that walks to one end, cleans, then turns around and walks and cleans it again, so we're constantly cleaning all day."
On-site visitation has been stopped, and cleaning crews aren't being sent out anymore. Before anyone is booked in the jail, they're evaluated by medical staff.
"We have a sally port area set up outside. Kind of like a intake area," said Sims. "Right now, we have our medical staff that screens all the inmates as they come in to check for symptoms, fever, a medical questionnaire about COVID-19."
If an inmate does start showing symptoms, they'll be isolated and monitored for three days.
Sims said, "We have a full medical staff here which includes having access to a doctor, nurse practitioner through a clinic here in Marshall County, so they would make the determination whether or not they need to be tested moving forward."
Deputies now practice social distancing when responding to calls, and all employees at the jail are checked for COVID-19 symptoms each day.
The Marshall County Sheriff's Office is still issuing pistol permits, but they are encouraging people to apply for a permit online. They are still allowing people to pick up permits.