(La Porte, IN) - Despite the COVID-19 surge and problems with infection at other places of incarceration, the La Porte County Jail is still pitching a perfect game against the virus.

Not one offender has tested positive over the past seven months, according to La Porte County Sheriff John Boyd.  Boyd said new inmates are screened for possible symptoms and quarantined away from general jail population until posting bond.  Inmates unable to meet bail are quarantined for 14 days to make sure they’re not infected before placed into a regular cell block.  Other preventative actions include quarantining offenders after returning to the jail from a trip to the hospital or to the courtroom for a hearing in their case.

Boyd said he’s kind of surprised the jail has remained virus free for so long, considering the outbreaks that have happened in other places housing a lot of people.  Outbreaks of the virus have occurred at facilities like Westville Prison and the Porter County Jail.

Boyd said his staff at the jail deserve most of the credit for closely adhering to COVID-19 prevention strategies.  "Every day is kind of a new frustration yet at the end of the day, you realize how proud you are of the staff because it's another day we've been COVID free.  It's been a miracle," he said.