Chief Probation Officer Tanja Heitman reported Friday that a staff assigned to the Santa Barbara Probation Department’s Santa Maria Juvenile Hall (SMJH) recently tested positive for COVID-19.
Santa Maria Juvenile Hall staff member tests positive for COVID-19; another possibly exposed
and last updated 2020-12-19 16:29:46-05
A staff member assigned to Santa Barbara County Probation Department s Santa Maria Juvenile Hall (SMJH) tested positive for COVID-19 Friday, according to chief probation officer Tanja Heitman.
According to a press release from the Santa Barbara County Probation Department, the staff member left work early after feeling mild symptoms and getting tested with their personal physician.
Officials said the staff member continues to experience mild symptoms of the virus and is self-isolating at home.
Probation department officials determined after contact tracing that an additional staff member was possibly exposed, but no youth, contract nor other personnel were contacted.
KEYT File
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - A support staff member who works at the Santa Maria Juvenile Hall has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Santa Barbara County Probation Department.
The staff member left the facility early after feeling mild symptoms and then tested positive. The staff member continues to experience mild symptoms but is self-isolating at home.
The Probation Department conducted contact tracing and determined only
one other staff was potentially exposed; no youth, contract or other personnel were contacted.
Probation Department employees and contractors are required to submit to a temperature and a health questionnaire screening prior to entering the facility and have been directed not to go to work when they are sick or are experiencing any symptoms of COVID.
Housing and Development Newsletter
Wellness bags were handed out to each family and to children in the home. The bags included facemasks, hand sanitizer, sanitizing cloths, first-aid kits, thermometers, stress balls, and brochures for resources available in the community and Probation Department.
Child wellness bags were holiday-themed and included popcorn, coloring books, crayons, puzzles and candy canes.
The combined effort was a success a total of 36 locations were visited with 30 contacts made and zero arrests. Officers handed out 43 family and child wellness bags. Twenty deputy probation officers and three victim advocates from the district attorney’s office participated.
For more about the Santa Barbara County Probation Department, visit www.sbprobation.org.