DANVILLE, Va. – An inmate in the Danville jail has tested positive for COVID-19.

Danville City Sheriff Michael Mondul said the inmate and others who had come into recent contact with the patient are now housed in quarantine in a specific area of the jail.

The sheriff said the inmate had shown symptoms of coronavirus earlier in the week and was placed in quarantine after examination by a jail doctor. The jail’s medical staff said the inmate’s fever is down and the inmate appears to be doing well.

Sheriff Mondul said this is the first case of COVID-19 in the jail, but his personnel were prepared with a quarantine plan and responded accordingly. A quarantine area had already been established and jail personnel are continuing to use enhanced cleaning methods in an effort to prevent further spread to the jail population.

Sheriff Mondul said it’s not clear from whom the inmate got the virus.