DHHS working to control COVID-19 outbreak at jail after judge's rebuke Judge criticizes Valley Street Jail superintendent over treatment of inmates Share Updated: 9:45 PM EST Jan 5, 2021 Judge criticizes Valley Street Jail superintendent over treatment of inmates Share Updated: 9:45 PM EST Jan 5, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript DURING THE PANDEMIC. AT THE GOVERNOR’S BRIEFING TUESDAY AFTERNOON, DHH COMMISSIONER LORI SHIBINETTE ANNOUNCED 15 NEW OUTBREAKS STATEWIDE INCLUDING A SIGNIFICANT ONE AT VALLEY STREET JAIL. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 100 RIGHT TO OUR COVID POSITIVE AND 27 STAFF. THOS NUMBERS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE CHANGED BY THE TIME I LEAVE THE PODIUM BECAUSE WE ARE ACTIVELY RUNNING TEST IN OUR LAB. >> DHHS HAS NOW TAKEN OVER MANAGEMENT OF THE CRISIS AND ANNOUNCED A ROBUST TESTING SCHEDULE OF STAFF AND INMATES IN THE COMING DAYS. PRIOR TO THURSDAY, WE FELL UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH. >> HILLSBOROUGH SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE CHARLES TEMPLE ISSUED A SCATHING REBUKE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT WILLY SCURRY WHO WAS JUST APPOINTED TO THE TOP POST LAST SUMMER THE ORDER STATES IN PART IT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATOR ACTED IN A MANNER THAT EXHIBITS DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE TO THE HEALTH OF ITS INMATES BY DISREGARDING THE SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF COVID 19. THE COURT ORDER STATES OVER TH 9 MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC ONLY 11 INMATES HAVE EVER BEEN TESTED FOR THE VIRUS. THAT HAS NOW CHANGED >> WE SET UP A FULL TESTING EVENT ON SUNDAY WHERE EVERY INCARCERATED PERSON WAS OFFERED THE OPPORUTNITY TO TEST. >> SUPERINTENDENT SCURRY IS SCHEDULED TO UPDATE THE HILLSBORO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON THE STATUS OF THE OUTBREAK TOMORROW - MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE SUPERINTENDENT TODAY WERE UNSUCCESSF