HIGHLAND HILLS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) has confirmed that the first COVID-19 case in one of its facilities has occurred at the Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility in Highland Hills.
According to a DYS spokesperson, a male youth presented with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 on Monday evening, and the DYS medical director ordered a test. At that time, the youth was immediately isolated in an empty unit at the facility and all unnecessary movement of youth in the facility was stoppeed.
The DYS says it began contact-tracing efforts and began discussions with both the Ohio Department of Health and the Cuyahoga County Health Department in the event of a positive test. They also started taking temperatures and monitoring the health of all youth on the unit from which he was removed.
The positive test came back positive on Tuesday. Gov. Mike DeWine briefly mentioned the result during his daily coronavirus briefing on Wednesday.
"Much of our operations had already been limited, including prohibiting any unnecessary individuals from entering the facility and implementing restrictions on youth intermingling between units. Both youth and staff have been provided with face masks and are required to wear them. We will continue to adjust our facility operational plans that guide additional response efforts. We are following all recommended procedures and protocols from ODH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We will also continue to work with the Cuyahoga County Department of Health as we respond to this situation," the DYS said in a statement to 3News.
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