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Virus hits Indianapolis cops, firefighters, but no inmates

The latest on coronavirus on March 31 on News 8 at 5 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is reporting 12 officers that have tested positive for COVID-19, a 60% increase from last week.

In an attempt to slow or stop the spread of the virus, the department has temporarily closed most of its offices. The exception are the Emergency Operations Center and the training academy.

IMPD said in a statement to News 8, “We are doing everything we can to help keep the entire first responder population healthy so we can ensure a consistent level of response for all types of runs we may get.”

The Indianapolis Fire Department reports 12 firefighters from separate stations bhave confirmed cases of COVID-19.

At the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, five employees have tested positive for the virus, two deputies who work in courts, a deputy and civilian employee in the jail division, and one administrative employee.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement to News 8, “There are no Marion county inmates that have tested positive for COVID-19, and no inmates are currently being held in isolation for suspected cases, nor for suspected contact with persons known to have tested positive for COVID-19.”

News 8 was told the Marion County courts are working with the prosecutor’s office to lower the population at the jail. The Sheriff office did not immediately provide a number of inmates who had been released.

In addition, when inmates are brought into the jail they are screened by an outside health care provider. The same applies to all jail staff prior to their shifts.