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San Jose Main Jail Inmate Tests Positive For COVID-19, Police Officer Possibly Exposed

SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- A Santa Clara County Main Jail inmate tested positive Sunday for the novel coronavirus and a San Jose police officer may have been exposed, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.

The 31-year-old man, whose name wasn't released, was arrested on Friday, March 20, reported feeling sick during his booking into the jail and let prison staff know a family member of his had returned from Europe a few days earlier.

He was reportedly masked and taken to an isolation cell. He was taken to the prison's infirmary, isolated, tested for the COVID-19 coronavirus infection and confirmed infected on Sunday, according to the sheriff's office. The prisoner remains in quarantine under medical monitoring. 

A San Jose police officer was also possibly exposed, sheriff's officials said.

The sheriff's office also confirmed arrestees were being screened for COVID-19 symptoms including dry cough, fever or shortness of breath outside of the jail now.

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