Rockingham County jail 'doing very well' with COVID-19, says superintendent

BRENTWOOD — Before he retires next month, Rockingham County Corrections Superintendent Stephen Church wants the public to know how well his staff has managed the COVID-19 pandemic. 

An immediate state-of-emergency in early March, strict protocols and enough space to isolate all new and COVID-positive inmates have resulted in a single outbreak in August and no hospitalized inmates or staff, Church said. 

"I get a lot of questions from the public about COVID-19 in the county jail," he said. "I'm able to report we're doing very well." 

Church said he imposed the state-of-emergency in early March and the county's contracted medical provider, Prime Care, managed all protocols. He said no one has entered the jail without a mask and being screened with questions and temperature-taking. All inmate visitations went virtual, which also allowed inmates to visit with family and friends who don't live within driving distance, he said.

Legal visits are still allowed in person, but from opposite sides of a glass window and by telephone, he said. Court appearances have gone virtual, meaning inmates and staff are not leaving the building and returning. 

Everyone in the jail is required to wear a face mask 24 hours a day, Church said. 

Health Service Administrator Niki Strachan said routine COVID-19 surveillance is conducted twice weekly, unless there's a positive result, in which case testing is done daily.

In August, Church said, 10 inmates tested positive, all caught through screenings after one was "slightly symptomatic." Because of community corrections programs and bail reform, said the superintendent, there was space to isolate the COVID-positive inmates.

There were no positive cases before, and after the 10 positive inmates later tested negative, there has only been one positive case since, Strachan said. That inmate is in his 70s and was asymptomatic, she said. 

Ruth James, a Seacoast resident and medical director of the Prime Care program at the county jail, said the single outbreak was "squashed quickly" without additional spread. 

"I've been so impressed with how our jail handled it," said James, who added she feels "completely comfortable working in our jail" because the protocols have worked. 

"Yes, we had an outbreak, but we managed it so quickly and effectively," she said. "People panic when their loved ones go to jail, but at least our jail has good protocols." 

Strachan said, "We were expecting to see more cases, but we did not. We were able to handle it within the department and there were no advanced symptoms that required hospitalization."

Also due to extra space in the jail, all new inmates are immediately isolated for 14 days and on the fifth day they are tested, Church said. 

"They're not exposed to anyone else, except any other inmate admitted on the same day and also quarantined," the superintendent said. 

Church said all staff is screened before entering the jail, have travel restrictions and can't go to work if they've been exposed to anyone they think was exposed to someone positive for COVID-19. 

"We're very strict about who comes and goes, including staff," he said. 

Church said the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has helped with testing, by sending members of the National Guard to conduct tests, providing test kits and with follow-up. 

"While other institutions are having issues around us," Church said, "we're doing very well, in the middle of a hot spot." 

Church said he's retiring Dec. 18 and taking his place will be Jason Henry, who last served as superintendent of the Carroll County jail.