Fifth San Bernardino County deputy returns to work after coronavirus recovery

A deputy assigned to patrol returned to work after fully recovering from coronavirus, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department announced on Thursday.

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A few changes were announced to help prevent continued spread amongst employees.

• Deputies assigned at patrol stations must wear face coverings when contacting members of the public.
• Dispatchers are asking coronavirus related questions to help prepare responding deputies if someone is symptomatic or has tested positive
• Deputies have been provided with cleaning supplies and are wiping down their patrol units throughout their shifts. 

The department expects more employees who were affected by the virus to return to work in the next couple of weeks.

On Tuesday, four deputies assigned to corrections made their return after recovering from the virus as well.

Read: 4 San Bernardino County deputies recover from coronavirus, return to work

A number of changes were made at the county's jails to help prevent the spread of the virus:

• Deputies and inmates have been provided with and are wearing facial masks
• Inmates have been given cleaning supplies to keep their housing areas sanitized
• Local hotels donated thousands of bars of soap that have been distributed to the inmate population to supplement what already exists
• An instructional handwashing video is played throughout the jails, illustrating correct handwashing techniques.

In addition, a jail medical staff is on hand to evaluate a new arrestee before they are able to enter the jail. The arrestee is then given a mask, and based on the results of the medical evaluation, are transported to the hospital or placed in quarantine/isolation at the jail.

Jail staff has their temperature taken at the beginning of each shift in efforts to monitor the health and wellbeing of the staff working in the corrections bureau.

San Bernadino County, as well as Riverside County, have issued an order requiring all residents to wear face coverings when out in public.

Homemade cloth ear loop covers, bandanas, handkerchiefs, and neck gaiters may be used.

In San Bernardino County, you are not required to have the mask on while inside a vehicle, however, you must wear a face covering if while in your vehicle, if communicating with someone outside of your car window.

Law enforcement is relying upon community members to use good judgment, common sense, and act in the best interests of their health and the health of others.

“We know our communities well, and the care and consideration they have for each other.  Help us do our job of keeping the community safe and healthy.  I know we can get through this if we all work together,” stated Sheriff John McMahon.  

San Bernardino County has 996 positive cases and 39 deaths as of Wednesday, April 15. 10,632 patients have been tested around the county so far.

Visit http://wp.sbcounty.gov/dph/coronavirus/ or dial (909) 387-3911 for more information from San Bernardino County health officials.

For those in Riverside County, you can visit https://www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus for the information from Riverside County health officials.