Santa Barbara, Calif. – A Sheriff’s Deputy and Custody Deputy have been found to be positive for COVID-19 and two COVID-19 positive inmates were booked into custody.

The Sheriff’s Deputy last worked on Saturday, December 12, 2020 and began experiencing symptoms on December 13, 2020. The Deputy was tested in the community on December 16, 2020 and found to be COVID-19 positive on December 17, 2020. The Deputy consistently wore a mask while at work.

The Custody Deputy was tested on December 15, 2020 as part of employee surveillance testing and last worked on December 16, 2020. The Custody Deputy was notified today the test returned positive. The Custody Deputy consistently wore PPE while at work. This brings the total number of Sheriff’s Office employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 to 61, with 50 having recovered and returned to work.

Two unrelated COVID-19 positive inmates were recently booked at the Main Jail. One inmate came into custody late yesterday and the other was received today. Both inmates were found to be positive for COVID-19 during the intake screening process and are each being housed in negative-air pressure housing areas, separate from the general population.