Lake County Jail counselor dies after testing positive for COVID-19

CROWN POINT, Ind. - A mental health counselor employed by the Lake County Jail has died after being hospitalized for coronavirus.

A few weeks ago, the counselor called off sick after experiencing flu-like symptoms, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez told The (Northwest Indiana) Times. He was instructed to stay quarantined and to consult his doctor.

In the following days, the counselor’s condition worsened, he was hospitalized and tested positive for COVID-19. The counselor died early Thursday, Martinez said.

The counselor’s name has not been released.

“We are all saddened at the recent loss of the counselor,” Martinez said. “We consider him and any of our employees family. We’re trying to deal with this difficult loss as a team.”

A medical assistant and a registered nurse working at the jail who had tested positive for the virus have been cleared of it and have been able to return to work.

Four inmates who tested positive remain in isolation and are medically stable with no symptoms, Martinez said. They and five other inmates showing flu-like symptoms are in isolation, he said.