YORK COUNTY, Maine — York County on Thursday announced a comprehensive inquiry into the COVID-19 outbreak at the York County Jail, where there are 72 total positive cases as of Thursday.
According to the Maine Center for Disease Control, 46 inmates have tested positive—a number that increased by eight within just 24 hours.
York County Manager Gregory Zinser said in a press briefing on Thursday that the inmates who tested positive are being isolated in a separate space.
This is the jail's third round of testing.
The outbreak at the jail complex is linked to an outbreak at a wedding and reception in Millinocket on August 7. Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah said a staff member of the York County Jail attended the wedding and reception in Millinocket. According to Dr. Shah, that staff member was one of the first confirmed cases at the jail.
York County was first made aware of the jail outbreak on Aug. 19; masks and face coverings were not required prior to that date.
Zinser, however, would not acknowledge that, and said this investigation will work to figure that out.
The Millinocket outbreak, which is now linked to 143 cases across the state, is also linked to an outbreak at Maplecrest Rehabilitation Center in Madison, where as of Wednesday there are 13 positive cases.
Watch the York County briefing here: