Kingfisher County Sheriff Dennis Banther said he’s had to “scramble” to cover for three employees who are off his roster for COVID-19 quarantine.

Two of the staff members tested positive and another was quarantined after a spouse tested positive, he said.

That’s in addition to an inmate who tested positive last week, but Banther is hopeful that the outbreak has run its course.

“Only one of my employees and the inmate were symptomatic and both are now symptom free and finishing the quarantine,” he said. “We are hoping to make it through the 16 ^th without any new cases, which will end our quarantine period.”

In the meantime, Banther cut jail staffing to 50% and has gone to a two-week-on, twoweek-off schedule.

“We should only need to go one rotation and be back to full force with no active cases,” he said.

An inmate was tested after running a fever and the diagnosis was confirmed last Wednesday, Banther said.

A staff member also tested positive after exhibiting symptoms on days off and remained quarantined at home. Another staff member in contact with the inmate also tested positive, along with the spouse of a third staff member.

A 14-day quarantine for everyone housed with the infected inmate will end Sept. 16.