Coronavirus

Coronavirus: Greene County deputy released from hospital after COVID-19 diagnosis

XENIA — UPDATE @ 3:10 p.m. (April 8):

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office deputy who tested positive for COVID-19 has been released from the hospital and will continue his recovery at home, according to Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer.

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The unidentified deputy was assigned on road patrol and was notified of a positive test after noticing symptoms weeks ago, Fischer previously told News Center 7.

Eight other employees of the sheriff’s office have been tested, and all have returned negative.

Our Greene County Deputy who tested positive for the Covid-19 virus has been released from the hospital and is now...

Posted by Greene County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, April 8, 2020


FIRST REPORT (April 7):

A Greene County Sheriff’s Office road deputy has been hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19, according to Sheriff Gene Fischer.

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“We had him sent home a couple of weeks ago with symptoms and we now know he has tested positive for COVID-19”, Fischer said. “He is currently in the hospital seeking treatment and we’re saying prayers for him and his family.”

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Sheriff Fischer would not identify the deputy, but did tell News Center 7 that eight other employees have been tested for COVID-19. Those tests have come back negative.

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“Everyone that’s been tested are employees of the Sheriff’s Office and most are in the jail. They had come to work with high fevers or other symptoms. All tests have come back negative. Another road deputy was also tested. His test came back negative as well,” Fischer said.

The Greene County Sheriff’s office now requires all employees and anyone else who comes to the office or jail to get their temperature taken before leaving the lobby. The sheriff told News Center 7 that employee shifts are also being changed so there’s less contact between them.

“We don’t want to carry it into the staff," Fischer said.

Fischer told News Center 7 that almost all the employees who tested negative for COVID-19 have returned to work.

He urged others to obey the stay-at-home order issued by Governor Mike DeWine and practice social distancing.

“I would say -- go ask my deputy how he is. You don’t want to feel that way. Take it seriously,” he said.

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