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As COVID-19 cases continue to rise locally, Belmont County Jail has taken inmates from Northern Regional Jail in Marshall County who have tested positive for the virus.
Belmont County Sheriff David Lucas confirmed two of the new inmates are positive for COVID-19, but said there is little risk to the rest of the population.
"This happened last week. This was done by court order," Lucas said.
"They were ordered by the court to be brought over. There were three males and two females, and one male and one female tested positive over there for COVID."
"All the necessary precautions have been taken. They have been quarantined here and they are segregated (from) other inmates," Lucas said. "They was on their tail-end of their quarantine. Once they're cleared by medical, then they'll be put in general population."
Marshall County and West Virginia officials could not be reached for comment.
In October, Belmont County Jail had reported its first cases of COVID-19 among staff and inmates after managing to remain free of the coronavirus from the start of the pandemic. Since then, there have been no cases. Strict screening for symptoms and sanitary measures remain in place.
Both Ohio and Marshall counties reported more positive cases in their Monday night updates. The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department reported 33 new cases Monday, bringing the county's total to 2,399 and 37 COVID-related deaths since the pandemic began.
The Marshall County Health Department reported 28 new confirmed positive cases and nine new probable cases covering a span from Saturday to Monday. That brings Marshall County's totals to 1,536 confirmed cases and 266 probable cases, six hospitalizations and 43 associated deaths.
The Northern Panhandle's four counties all remained "red" Monday on the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources daily COVID-19 alert map. They were among 32 counties among West Virginia's 55 who were in the map's highest-risk category.
Thirteen more counties on the map were "orange," the second-highest-risk category. Only 10 counties in the state are in the lower-risk categories.
Brooke and Hancock counties were among five in West Virginia with infection rates more than 100 per 100,000 residents. The duo joined Grant, Hampshire and Hardy on that list. Hancock County had an infection rate of 111.57 cases per 100,000 residents and a percent positivity of 15.35. Brooke County had an infection rate of 114.60 cases per 100,000 residents and a percent positivity of 15.78.
Ohio County had an infection rate of 82.79 cases per 100,000 residents and a percent positivity of 11.75. Marshall County had an infection rate of 58.49 cases per 100,000 residents and a percent positivity of 10.02.
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Times-Leader staff writer Robert A. DeFrank contributed to this report.