MT. VERNON — As all of us get adjusted to a new normal life during the Coronavirus outbreak, local penal institutions are also trying to prevent the spread of the novel COVID-19.

Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Bullard says his office has put into place its communicable disease prevention plan policy. He says while it’s a challenge to create social distancing for all inmates, Justice Center staff are doing everything they can to keep inmates and employees healthy.

Bullard says earlier this week, an inmate was taken to a local hospital for respiratory issues. He says the inmate test positive for pneumonia, but tested negative for COVID-19, and there are no cases of the virus as of Wednesday morning at the jail.